symbiosis – mycolab.ai

Roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant growth and disease management for sustainable agriculture

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial fungi that live in plant roots and form a mutually beneficial relationship with plants. These fungi help plants absorb more nutrients and water from the soil, strengthen their natural defenses against diseases and pests, and work together with other helpful soil bacteria to create disease-suppressive soil. This makes AMF a promising natural alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers for sustainable agriculture.

Biostimulant and Bioinsecticidal Effect of Coating Cotton Seeds with Endophytic Beauveria bassiana in Semi-Field Conditions

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Researchers coated cotton seeds with a beneficial fungus called Beauveria bassiana to improve plant growth and reduce insect pests. The treated cotton plants grew taller, had more leaves, and accumulated more biomass than untreated plants. Additionally, these coated seeds significantly reduced populations of aphids that naturally infested the plants, offering a chemical-free approach to pest management for cotton farming.

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

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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.

The Small Key to the Treasure Chest: Endogenous Plant Peptides Involved in Symbiotic Interactions

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Plants use tiny signaling molecules called peptides to communicate with beneficial soil organisms like nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fungi. These peptides act like chemical messengers that help plants decide when to allow these microbes to enter their roots and form helpful relationships. The review identifies over a dozen peptide families that control nodule formation, nutrient uptake, and immune responses, revealing how plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to balance protection against harmful pathogens while welcoming beneficial partners.

Bacterial–Fungal Interactions: Mutualism, Antagonism, and Competition

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Bacteria and fungi in animal bodies interact in three main ways: they help each other (mutualism), fight each other (antagonism), or compete for resources. These interactions happen in the gut, rumen, and skin of animals. Understanding how to balance these relationships can help create better probiotics and natural alternatives to antibiotics for treating infections and improving animal health.

Root anatomy governs bi-directional resource transfer in mycorrhizal symbiosis

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Researchers developed a new theory explaining how plant roots and fungi work together to exchange nutrients and carbon. The theory shows that thicker roots are less efficient at absorbing nutrients on their own, but mycorrhizal fungi help by positioning themselves in the inner layers of roots to reduce the energy cost of nutrient transport. This partnership between roots and fungi becomes increasingly important for thicker roots, explaining why many plants with thick roots depend more heavily on fungal partners for survival.

Plants, fungi, and antifungals: A little less talk, a little more action

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Researchers propose looking at how plants communicate with fungi to discover new antifungal medicines. Plants send chemical signals to fungi, and understanding these signals could help us develop better treatments for fungal infections in humans and crops. By studying a simple yeast model, scientists found that plant molecules called strigolactones control fungal phosphate metabolism, suggesting they could become new drug targets.

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 research explores how orchid-associated fungi sense and respond to their host plants before they even make physical contact. Scientists used advanced molecular techniques to track changes in gene expression and chemical composition in Tulasnella fungal cells when exposed to orchid plants. The fungi showed significant metabolic preparation, increasing production of proteins and cellular membrane components, suggesting they are actively preparing for symbiosis. This study reveals that plant-fungus interactions begin through long-distance chemical communication before the organisms ever physically meet.

Temporal changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities and their driving factors in Xanthoceras sorbifolium plantations

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This study examined how fungal communities associated with plant roots change as Xanthoceras sorbifolium tree plantations age from 5 to 56 years old. Researchers found that these beneficial fungi form strong partnerships with the trees at all ages, with the dominant fungus Glomus gradually becoming more abundant over time. The composition and diversity of these fungal communities are primarily influenced by soil properties like pH and carbon content, as well as by characteristics of plant roots and decomposing leaf litter.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza suppresses microbial abundance, and particularly that of ammonia oxidizing bacteria, in agricultural soils

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This study examined how beneficial fungal partners of plants (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) affect soil bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrate. Using 50 different soils from Czech agricultural fields, researchers found that these fungi suppress ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, but surprisingly this happens even when ammonia levels in soil are high. The findings suggest the relationship between these microorganisms is more complex than simple competition for nutrients.

Research Keyword: symbiosis