plant-fungal symbiosis

Endophytic Beauveria spp. Enhance Tomato Growth and Resistance to Botrytis cinerea via Transcriptomic Regulation

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Researchers tested five types of beneficial fungi from the Beauveria genus to see if they could help tomato plants grow better and resist gray mold disease. They found that all five species could live inside tomato plants and help them grow taller. Most importantly, the fungus Beauveria brongniartii completely protected plants from gray mold infection. By examining which genes were activated in the plants, scientists discovered that these fungi boost the plant’s natural defense systems while also improving photosynthesis.

Mycelial dynamics in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

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This review examines the intricate underground networks formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which partner with most land plants to help them absorb nutrients from soil. These fungal networks are far more complex and dynamic than previously recognized, expanding through the soil in coordinated wave-like patterns and responding flexibly to changing environmental conditions. The research highlights that viewing these fungal networks as a unified, responsive system rather than separate parts can help us better understand how they support plant growth and maintain healthy ecosystems.

Phytohormones and volatile organic compounds, like geosmin, in the ectomycorrhiza of Tricholoma vaccinum and Norway spruce (Picea abies)

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This research examines how a fungus (Tricholoma vaccinum) and spruce tree communicate through chemical signals. The fungus produces unique compounds including geosmin (the earthy smell of soil after rain), limonene (lemon scent), and plant hormones. These chemicals help the fungus and tree establish their beneficial partnership by affecting how the fungus grows and branches around the tree roots. The findings show that these chemical signals are crucial for successful formation of the mycorrhizal relationship.

Fungal symbiont Mycena complements impaired nitrogen utilization in Gastrodia elata and supplies indole-3-acetic acid to facilitate its seed germination

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A special type of orchid called Gastrodia elata cannot survive on its own because it has lost the ability to produce its own food and certain plant growth hormones. Instead, it relies completely on a fungal partner called Mycena to provide nitrogen nutrients and auxin (a growth hormone). This study reveals exactly how Mycena does this by analyzing their genes and how they communicate, showing that the fungus acts as a nutritional life-support system for the orchid seed’s germination.

Plant–Fungi Mutualism, Alternative Splicing, and Defense Responses: Balancing Symbiosis and Immunity

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Fungi form beneficial partnerships with plant roots, helping plants absorb nutrients and resist stress. A key process called alternative splicing allows cells to make different versions of proteins from the same genes, fine-tuning how plants and fungi cooperate. This review explains how alternative splicing acts like a molecular switch that balances the plant’s immune system with accepting the beneficial fungus, and how understanding this could help farmers grow healthier crops with less chemical fertilizers.

Mycorrhizae and grapevines: the known unknowns of their interaction for wine growers’ challenges

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form beneficial partnerships with grapevine roots, helping plants absorb water and nutrients while improving stress tolerance. These fungi relationships begin in plant nurseries and continue in vineyards, but their effectiveness depends on the specific fungus species, vine variety, and farming practices like soil management and herbicide use. Using these fungi as biological stimulants could help grapevines cope with climate change challenges like drought and heat, though more field studies are needed to confirm their practical benefits.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Assisted Phytoremediation: A Promising Strategy for Cadmium-Contaminated Soils

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Cadmium contamination in farm soils poses serious threats to food safety and human health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial fungi that form partnerships with plant roots and can significantly reduce the amount of cadmium that plants absorb from contaminated soil. These fungi work through multiple mechanisms including physically trapping cadmium in soil, improving plant nutrition and stress resilience, and enhancing the plant’s natural detoxification systems. This natural approach offers a sustainable and cost-effective strategy for cleaning up contaminated agricultural land.

Invasive plants decrease arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and promote generalist fungal partners

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When invasive plants take over ecosystems, they damage the underground fungal communities that native plants depend on. This study found that as invasive plants become more dominant, the diversity of helpful fungi decreases and is replaced by generalist fungi that can live with many plant types. This loss of fungal diversity weakens the overall ecosystem and makes it harder for native plants to thrive.

Omics approaches to investigate pre-symbiotic responses of the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella sp. SV6 to the orchid host Serapias vomeracea

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This study examines how a fungus called Tulasnella responds to orchids before they physically touch each other. Researchers grew the fungus near young orchid plants separated by a thin membrane and found that the fungus changed its genes and chemistry significantly, suggesting it somehow detected the orchid’s presence. The fungus increased production of proteins and fats, as if preparing for a partnership with the plant. These findings help us understand how plants and fungi communicate and begin their beneficial relationships.

Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments

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This research paper highlights the remarkable diversity of fungi that thrive in some of Earth’s most challenging environments, from polluted soils and hypersaline lagoons to Arctic and Antarctic lakes. These fungi possess unique adaptations that allow them to survive extreme conditions and play important roles in plant health, pollution cleanup, and ecosystem resilience. The paper reviews multiple studies discovering new fungal species and understanding how fungi interact with their environments, offering potential applications for environmental remediation and sustainable agriculture.

Research Keyword: plant-fungal symbiosis