Research Keyword: fungal-bacterial mutualism

Ectomycorrhizal fungi recruit hyphae-associated bacteria that metabolize thiamine to promote pine symbiosis

Pine trees partner with special fungi that help them absorb nutrients from soil. However, these fungi sometimes lack vitamin B1 (thiamine) needed for growth. Researchers discovered that these fungi recruit helpful bacteria that produce thiamine, creating a three-way partnership. When all three partners work together, pine seedlings grow much better, showing how nature uses teamwork to help plants thrive in forests.

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

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.

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