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Advances in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis

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Dear Colleagues,

The term Mycorrhiza comes from the Greek words "mycos", meaning fungus, and "rhiza", meaning root, and refers to a mutualistic symbiosis between roots of higher plants and a group of soil fungi belonging to the phyla Glomeromycota, Basidiomycota, or Ascomycota. Through this mutualistic association, the plant receives soil nutrients (especially phosphorus) and water, while the fungus receives a protected ecological niche and plant-derived carbon compounds for its nutrition. Among mycorrhizal symbioses, the so-called “Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM)”is the most abundant type and is characterized by the fact that the fungal symbiont (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus or AMF) colonizes the cortical cells in the roots of vascular plants and forms special structures called arbuscules, in which takes place the exchange of nutrients and compounds between both symbiotic partners. AM fungi occur in the majority of natural habitats and provide a range of important ecological services, in particular by improving plant nutrition, biotic and abiotic stress resistance and tolerance, and soil structure and fertility.

This Special Issue aims to reveal the current state and recent advancements in the understanding of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis from genetic, epigenetic, biochemical, physiological, and ecological perspectives. Understanding the future potential and limits of this symbiosis will enhance the use of AM fungi for improving plant performance and productivity, mainly under adverse environmental conditions. This issue aims to cover the function of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses, especially in the interplay between direct nutrient element uptake via plant roots and uptake via the AM fungal pathway. Additionally, understanding the role of the AM symbiosis in facing the adverse effects of the current climate change scenario is a main objective of this Special Issue. Original research, review, methods, perspective, and opinion articles are all welcome.

Dr. Juan Manuel Ruiz Lozano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
mutualistic association
plant nutrition
biotic and abiotic stress resistance

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29 pages, 2392 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Complex Interplay between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Strigolactone: Mechanisms, Sinergies, Applications and Future Directions

by Gökhan Boyno, Younes Rezaee Danesh, Semra Demir, Necmettin Teniz, José M. Mulet and Rosa Porcel

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16774; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316774 - 26 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1724

Abstract

Plants, the cornerstone of life on Earth, are constantly struggling with a number of challenges arising from both biotic and abiotic stressors. To overcome these adverse factors, plants have evolved complex defense mechanisms involving both a number of cell signaling pathways and a complex network of interactions with microorganisms. Among these interactions, the relationship between symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and strigolactones (SLs) stands as an important interplay that has a significant impact on increased resistance to environmental stresses and improved nutrient uptake and the subsequent enhanced plant growth. AMF establishes mutualistic partnerships with plants by colonizing root systems, and offers a range of benefits, such as increased nutrient absorption, improved water uptake and increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. SLs play a fundamental role in shaping root architecture, promoting the growth of lateral roots and regulating plant defense responses. AMF can promote the production and release of SLs by plants, which in turn promote symbiotic interactions due to their role as signaling molecules with the ability to attract beneficial microbes. The complete knowledge of this synergy has the potential to develop applications to optimize agricultural practices, improve nutrient use efficiency and ultimately increase crop yields. This review explores the roles played by AMF and SLs in plant development and stress tolerance, highlighting their individual contributions and the synergistic nature of their interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis)

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18 pages, 5411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Analysis of the PHT Gene Family and Its Response to Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Tomatoes under Phosphate Starvation Conditions

by Wenjing Rui, Jing Ma, Ning Wei, Xiaoya Zhu and Zhifang Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(12), 10246; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210246 - 16 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1239

Abstract

Phosphate is one of the essential mineral nutrients. Phosphate transporter genes (PHTs) play an important role in Pi acquisition and homeostasis in tomato plants. However, basic biological information on PHT genes and their responses of symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal in the genome remains largely unknown. We analyzed the physiological changes and PHT gene expression in tomatoes (Micro-Tom) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Funneliformis mosseae) under different phosphate conditions (P1: 0 µM, P2: 25 µM, and P3: 200 µM Pi). Twenty-three PHT genes were identified in the tomato genomics database. Protein sequence alignment further divided the 23 PHT genes into three groups, with similar classifications of exons and introns. Good colonization of plants was observed under low phosphate conditions (25 µM Pi), and Pi stress and AM fungi significantly affected P and N accumulation and root morphological plasticity. Moreover, gene expression data showed that genes in the SlPHT1 (SlPT3, SlPT4, and SlPT5) gene family were upregulated by Funneliformis mosseae under all conditions, which indicated that these gene levels were significantly increased with AM fungi inoculation. None of the analyzed SlPHT genes in the SlPH2, SlPHT3, SlPHT4, and SlPHO gene families were changed at any Pi concentration. Our results indicate that inoculation with AM fungi mainly altered the expression of the PHT1 gene family. These results will lay a foundation for better understanding the molecular mechanisms of inorganic phosphate transport under AM fungi inoculation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis)

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