Potentials and limitations of plant-mycorrhiza symbiosis as a tool for restoration of degraded ecosystems

Natural ecosystems are severely degraded and their productivity is highly reduced due to improper utilization by human (e.g. mining, road construction etc.) and environmental constrains (e.g. drought and salinity). Natural recovery of vegetation cover in these ecosystems is too slow through natural succession process. Furthermore, low soil fertility and harsh microclimate conditions decrease capabilities of traditional restoration methods, in these areas. In the recent decades, researchers have found positive and negative effects of plant-mycorrhiza symbiosis on plants growth and reproduction. In soil polluted with heavy metals also in saline and sodic soils, mycorrhiza increases uptake of low mobile elements and provides ion balance for the coexisting plants. In degraded soil and mined areas, mycorrhiza increases plant establishment, growth and biomass. Accordingly in the recent years, the benefits of plant-mycorrhiza symbiosis are used for restoration of degraded lands, in some developed countries. The main aim of this paper is to describe potentials and limitations of mycorrhiza-plant symbiosis and to provide suggestions for using this interaction as a tool for restoration of degraded ecosystems.