Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi elevate maize plant tolerance to Antimony, enhancing the nutritive value of seeds

Abstract The rise in industrial activity has resulted in an escalating threat antimony (Sb) buildups and biomagnifications in both plants and humans. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been thoroughly investigated as a soil enhancement due to their ability to decrease the accumulation of many heavy metals in plant tissues. However, a quantitative and data-based consensus has yet to be reached on the effect of AMF application on maize plants, focusing on plant growth, nutrient content, and antioxidant properties in maize grains subjected to antimony treatment. A notable decrease in AMF-related parameters, including colonization, hyphal length, and arbuscules, was noted when AMF was combined with Sb compared to AMF alone. The AMF treatment alone enhanced plant growth, as indicated by the increased fresh and dry biomass, while Sb treatment alone reduced substantially the total fresh (66%) and dray weight (65%). However, combining AMF with Sb resulted in significant variations in macro- and micronutrients in maize grains. Notably, the combined AMF and Sb treatment influenced the nutritional value of maize grains, showing increased levels of organic acids, amino acids, and fatty acids compared to control. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of maize grains was enhanced by AMF inoculation, as indicated by high levels of polyphenols (39%), flavonoids (63%), ascorbic acid (ASC) (71%), and glutathione (GSH) (28%) content as response to Sb application. Also, a 33% rise in total tocopherol was noted, reflecting comparable upward trends. These findings suggest that the co-application of AMF and Sb can positively influence maize nutritional quality and antioxidant properties of maize grains, offering benefits for sustainable agricultural practices.