Articles tagged with Mycorrhizae
Researchers found mycorrhizal fungi in desert moss, unlike those found in less harsh conditions, suggesting a deliberate relationship. The discovery could rewrite moss biology and offer clues about the origins of life on land.
A new study found that soil fungi play a key role in supporting carbon retention and improving fertility in nutrient-poor urban soils. Biochar and compost increased soil carbon and nitrogen storage most strongly in these soils, with amendment effects up to 14.4 times greater than those observed in nutrient-rich soils.
Researchers created the first global maps of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi's distribution and mass, estimating ~110 quadrillion kilometers of network length and ~300 megatons of carbon. The networks support plant life and regulate climate by drawing in CO2 from atmosphere.
Researchers found that acid-modified and alkaline biochars helped reduce stress from saline-alkali soil, improving soil conditions and supporting alfalfa performance. Alkaline biochar promoted biomass growth, while acid-modified biochar improved soil chemistry and root defense in highly alkaline soils.
A new study reveals that combining biochar and compost can restore urban soil health, but only under the right conditions. Fungi play a crucial role in determining success, and their diversity is linked to improvements in soil health.
A new study reveals that carefully designed biochar amendments can improve plant growth and soil health in saline-alkali soils by reshaping plant metabolism and microbial communities. Alkaline biochar was found to stimulate key metabolic pathways, while acid-modified biochar enhanced root development and activated plant defense systems.
Researchers found that combining biochar with beneficial bacteria significantly improves phosphorus availability, reshaping plant development and increasing crop yields in greenhouse-grown cherry tomatoes. The study also showed that this approach can enhance soil fertility and crop productivity without increasing fertilizer inputs.
A new field study reveals that biochar can significantly restore soil health and nitrogen availability in forests affected by acid rain. Biochar triggers major biological changes in the soil, enhancing microbial biomass and increasing nitrogen use efficiency.
Researchers developed a system combining biochar with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to target specific pollutants in red mud. The results showed that each fungal species played a distinct role in detoxifying arsenic and lead, as well as improving soil health.
A recent study analyzed environmental DNA from the largest global dataset of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal and found a striking gap: more than 70% of ecoregions lack sequencing data. This underrepresentation threatens biodiversity surveys, plant productivity, soil aggregation, and climate mitigation predictions.
Fungi have evolved unique strategies to digest charcoal and other pollutants, including gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer. These discoveries could lead to new methods for cleaning up contaminated environments.
Researchers discovered that beneficial fungi enhance plant resistance to disease by remodelling the plant cell membrane at pathogen infection sites. This transformation coincides with a significant reduction in pathogen colonisation and offers critical new insights into how plants coordinate defences in complex natural environments.
Researchers explored the impact of urbanization on pollinators, found that trees' root systems shift with age, and discovered sea urchin 'halos' as indicators of ecosystem vulnerability. The studies highlight the need for tailored conservation strategies to address regional ecological challenges.
Researchers have identified a new species of ancient symbiotic fungus preserved within a 407-million-year-old plant fossil from Scotland. The discovery provides unprecedented three-dimensional insight into one of the earliest known plant–fungus partnerships, known as mycorrhiza.
A study by Kobe University discovered that wild orchid seeds require fungi from decaying logs to germinate. The team found a consistent association between young and adult plants with coral-shaped rhizomes and wood-decaying fungi, suggesting an essential role for these fungi in the orchid's nutritional needs.
Researchers found that cultivating bread wheat with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis increases grain size and micronutrient levels, especially phosphorus and zinc. This process enhances the bioavailability of these essential nutrients in bread wheat.
Scientists have released high-resolution maps revealing 90% of mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity hotspots outside protected areas, posing a threat to carbon drawdown and ecosystem resilience. The research highlights the critical role of mycorrhizal fungi in regulating Earth's climate and ecosystems.
Researchers found that dual symbioses between trees and mycorrhizal fungi enhance tree fitness, making them less sensitive to drought and nutrient scarcity. This cooperation enables trees to colonize a larger territory and adapt to harsher climates, particularly in dry areas.
The Phytovirome Focus Issue addresses fundamental and translational aspects of phytovirome science, highlighting the transformative role of high-throughput sequencing technologies. Researchers discovered a remarkable diversity of viruses in plants, with complex communities interacting with hosts in both pathogenic and beneficial ways.
Researchers propose a new biological hypothesis that combines tree dispersal modes and mycorrhizal types to explain the latitudinal variation in forest biodiversity. Advanced spatial analysis techniques reveal a negative aggregation–abundance relationship, stronger in temperate forests, which is linked to animal seed dispersal and myco...
Researchers at Kobe University found that some orchids have stopped photosynthesis and become parasites feeding on fungi, boosting their nutrient budget without ceasing to employ photosynthesis. The study reveals a clear link between parasitic behavior and improved plant vigor.
A new study led by University of Oxford suggests that plants are more likely to be eavesdroppers than altruists when tapping into underground networks. The study found that it is unlikely that plants would evolve to warn other plants of impending attacks, instead finding that plants may signal dishonestly to harm their neighbors.
A study in a subtropical forest found that arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) trees outperform ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees in high-diversity ecosystems due to more efficient nutrient-acquisition strategies. In contrast, EcM tree monocultures had reduced net primary production and were dominated by pathogenic fungi.
Research from the University of Reading found that sinks and P-traps harbor a surprising number of fungal organisms, including black moulds and relatives of baker's yeast. The study showed that these microorganisms can tolerate high temperatures, low pH, and low nutrients, making them a potential risk to health in certain environments.
Research finds fungi and bacteria can thrive in post-megafire soils, with certain microbes increasing in abundance. These microbial 'cousins' are genetically related and share adaptive traits to respond to fire, improving prediction of their responses.
A new paper by an Oregon State University-led research team provides a scientific framework to shape the rollout of a program in Oregon allowing the use of psilocybin for therapeutic reasons. The research highlights the importance of Indigenous traditions and safety guidelines for using psilocybin-containing fungi.
Researchers propose that cognitive activity operating on a planetary scale is necessary to tackle global issues. A mature technosphere involves integrating technological systems with Earth through feedback loops, making it self-maintaining and exhibiting emergent behavior.
Researchers discovered a protein called PHR regulates arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis based on phosphate availability. AM promotes phosphate uptake and other nutrient absorption, enhancing plant resistance to stressors.
A new study published in Applications in Plant Sciences highlights the negative effects of clearcutting on mycorrhizal fungi, showing less diversity in formerly deforested areas. High-throughput sequencing reveals over 300 distinct fungal lineages in soil and root samples, shedding light on ecosystem health.
A study found that 95% of fungal species on Earth remain undescribed, leading to inconsistent regulations and potential health risks. The researchers tested 16 food products labeled as containing 'wild mushrooms' and discovered most consisted of cultivated species, including poisonous varieties.
Research from Utah State University finds that large trees in western forests benefit from mycorrhizal connections to fungi, which enhance nutrient uptake and provide defense against pathogens. Diverse forest networks offer greater protection for these giant trees.
Researchers found that the MLO gene, which causes many crops to be susceptible to powdery mildew, also facilitates colonization by symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in plants. This suggests that the primary role of MLO is in colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which has been appropriated by powdery mildew pathogens.
Researchers used radiocarbon analysis to determine the carbon age of non-photosynthetic orchids, revealing they obtain carbon from dead wood via saprotrophic fungi. This finding overturns traditional views and opens a new perspective on how these plants have become ecologically successful.
New research from the University of Illinois has discovered genes controlling mycorrhizal colonization in soybeans. The study found that different soybean genotypes have varying levels of root colonization by a common mycorrhizal fungus.
A new study reveals that human impacts have greatly reduced plant-fungus symbioses, which play a key role in sequestering carbon in soils. Restoring these ecosystems could help alleviate anthropogenic soil carbon losses and ameliorate increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in plant thriving by providing up to 80% of the nutrients and water plants need to grow. The study analyzed over 17,000 trait observations from nearly 3,000 woody plant species and found that these fu...
Assistant professor Bala Chaudhary's research aims to understand how symbiotic plant microbes disperse at large continental scales. The project will use data from the National Ecological Observatory Network and analyze soil samples using DNA sequencing to determine eco-climatic predictors of mycorrhizal communities.
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown compartment within the symbiotic cortical root cells of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The periarbuscular space now appears to be a complex network of membranes linking the plant cytoplasm to regions adjacent to the fungus, suggesting an efficient exchange of nutrients and molecules.
A large-scale study found that tree fungi communities are stressed by pollution across 20 European countries. The study revealed thresholds of essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus beyond which the community of mycorrhizal fungi changes.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect and identify the many species involved in these ecologically vital communities, revealing one of the highest levels of species richness recorded to date. The study found that the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities were dominated by a small number of very common fungi.
Researchers sequenced the genome of C. geophilum and found specific adaptations that could help host trees be more resistant to drought stress. The fungus has a reduced number of plant cell wall degrading enzymes and a large set of symbiosis-induced lineage-specific genes, including water channel genes.
Plants can grow faster with higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels if they have enough nitrogen, according to a new study. Microbes, particularly fungi that partner with plants, are essential for this process.
An international team analyzed 49 fungal genomes, revealing that key genome adaptation enabling symbiosis evolved independently in numerous lines of fungi. The study provides crucial information on how symbiosis between fungi and trees evolved, enabling scientists to improve prediction of reaction to environmental modifications.
A team of researchers analyzed 49 fungal genomes, revealing that mycorrhizal fungi evolved independently in many fungal lineages. The study also found that up to 40% of symbiosis-induced genes were restricted to a single mycorrhizal species.
A recent study found that female plants are more likely to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi than male plants, leading to a shift in population dynamics. This sex-specific interaction may contribute to the spatial segregation of males and females in certain plant species.
The Laccaria genome sequence will provide critical insights into the symbiotic relationship between trees and fungi, enabling faster-growing trees with enhanced biomass production. The study highlights the importance of mycorrhizal fungi in terrestrial ecosystems and their potential to mitigate climate change.
Researchers discovered that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in transporting atmospheric carbon to soil. The study found that insects consuming the fungi disrupted this process, highlighting the importance of preserving healthy soil biodiversity and nutrient flow for sustainable agriculture.
A recent study found that adding natural mycorrhizal fungi to synthetic fertilizers can significantly improve plant growth while reducing pesticide use and water consumption. Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Communications discovered this inexpensive additive makes better use of fertilizers, saving money and improving the environment.
Researchers found that mycorrhizal fungi interactions with atmospheric CO2 and soil N led to distinct community formations. This study highlights the importance of considering these interactions in predicting plant responses to climate change.
Grasshoppers are drawn to plants with mycorrhizal symbiosis due to their increased nutrient content and tolerance to grazing. The study, conducted by Kansas State University researchers, found that grasshoppers avoid plants without this beneficial relationship, suggesting a crucial role for fungi in ecosystem health.