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Low spatial mobility of associated microbes along the hyphae limits organic nitrogen utilization in the arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphosphere

Summary

This research examines how fungi and bacteria work together to help plants get nitrogen from organic matter in soil. The study found that fungal networks cannot effectively transport bacteria to distant nutrient sources. Instead, bacteria and fungi must be close to organic materials like chitin to successfully break them down and make nitrogen available to plants.

Background

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi enhance plant nutrient acquisition from soil through associations with bacterial partners. However, the ability of AM fungi to exploit organic nitrogen forms and the role of fungal hyphae in transporting decomposer microorganisms to nutrient-rich zones remains unclear.

Objective

To determine whether AM fungi effectively transport beneficial bacterial partners into nutrient-rich zones and whether microbial diversity affects the efficiency of organic nitrogen mineralization and plant acquisition via fungal networks.

Results

Nitrogen uptake from chitin decreased with reduced microbial inputs into root-free zones. AM fungal hyphae were ineffective at priming chitin mineralization or transporting specialized decomposer microbes to distant organic resources. Chitin-enriched compartments became attractive for AM fungi only when previously mineralized by competent microbes.

Conclusion

Microbial transport via AM hyphal networks is limited in spatially restricted soil compartments, indicating that effective organic nitrogen utilization requires direct proximity between decomposer microbes and organic substrates rather than relying on fungal highways for microbial dispersal.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Plant Science,
  • Study Type:Controlled Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1706684, PMID: 41602533
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