Serendipita indica: Harnessing its versatile potential for food and nutritional security

• Published in: Physiological and molecular plant pathology 2021-12, Vol.116, p.101708, Article 101708
• Main Authors: Shekhawat, Pooja Kanwar, Jangir, Pooja, Bishnoi, Alka, Roy, Shweta, Ram, Hasthi, Soni, Praveen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomic attributes; Food quality; Nutrient enrichment; Secondary metabolites; Serendipita indica
• ISSN: 0885-5765; 1096-1178; 1096-1178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmpp.2021.101708

Quantity as well as quality of food is a major concern for increasing human population. Serendipita indica, a root endophytic fungus, has multifarious applications in agriculture. It increases nutrient and water uptake, carbon assimilation efficiency and stress-resistance which in turn enhances the growth and yield of plants. Moreover, it improves contents of minerals, fatty acids and essential oil, composition of oil, and fruit firmness in different plants. It also enhances the production of secondary metabolites having medicinal properties. This review highlights the role of Serendipita indica in increasing crop production and improving food quality. The underlying mechanism has also been illustrated. •S.indica, a rootonic fungus having a wide host range, promotes plant growth and agronomic traits.•Nutritional quality (minerals, oil, taste, sugars, etc.) of edible parts of different plants is improved by S. indica.•S. indica also increases the contents of specific secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.•Nutrient acquisition, increase in photosynthetic efficiency, modulation of phytohormones, regulation of gene expression, etc. are mediated by S. indica.