Fungal Biofertilizers for Regenerative and Sustainable Crop Production

The demand for sustainable agricultural inputs is increasing as farming systems face nutrient depletion, fertilizer price volatility, greenhouse-gas emissions, and pressure to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Fungi can contribute to plant nutrition through phosphorus solubilization, nitrogen mobilization, mineral weathering, siderophore production, phytohormone modulation, improved root development, and enhanced soil structure. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, phosphate-solubilizing fungi, endophytes, and other plant-growth-promoting fungi are consequently being investigated as biofertilizers and components of regenerative production systems. Recent studies have examined arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant growth and disease management, endophytic fungi as regulators of phytohormone production, and fungal inoculants that support nutrient acquisition and rhizosphere health. However, performance remains inconsistent across soils, crops, climates, and management systems. Important unresolved questions concern strain selection, compatibility with crop varieties, formulation stability, interactions with native microbiota, nutrient-use efficiency, and long-term effects on soil fertility. This Research Topic will address the gap between mechanistic evidence and reliable agricultural application, with emphasis on scalable fungal biofertilizer technologies and their contribution to low-input and regenerative farming. It aims to clarify how mycorrhizal, endophytic, and free-living fungi can improve plant nutrient acquisition, soil fertility, resource-use efficiency, and productivity within sustainable and regenerative agricultural systems. To gather further insights into fungal biofertilizers and sustainable crop production, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: • Arbuscular mycorrhizal, endophytic, phosphate-solubilizing, potassium-solubilizing, and mineral-weathering fungi • Fungal contributions to phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, micronutrient, and water acquisition • Siderophores, organic acids, phytohormones, extracellular enzymes, and root-development mechanisms • Inoculum production, formulation stability, quality control, storage, and application technologies • Compatibility with crop varieties, reduced-input systems, organic farming, and regenerative agriculture • Field performance, yield, nutrient-use efficiency, soil fertility, carbon cycling, and economic assessment This topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Methods, and Perspectives. Topic editors: Anusha H. Ekanayaka, Ofir Degani Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84411/fungal-biofertilizers-for-regenerative-and-sustainable-crop-production