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Summary Stress is ubiquitous and disrupts homeostasis, leading to damage, decreased fitness, and even death. Like other organisms, mycorrhizal fungi evolved mechanisms for stress tolerance that allow them to persist or even thrive under environmental stress. Such mechanisms can also protect their obligate plant partners, contributing to their health and survival under hostile conditions. Here we review the effects of stress and mechanisms of stress response in mycorrhizal fungi. We cover molecular and cellular aspects of stress and how stress impacts individual fitness, physiology, growth, reproduction, and interactions with plant partners, along with how some fungi evolved to tolerate hostile environmental conditions. We also address how stress and stress tolerance can lead to adaptation and have cascading effects on population‐ and community‐level diversity. We argue that mycorrhizal fungal stress tolerance can strongly shape not only fungal and plant physiology, but also their ecology and evolution. We conclude by pointing out knowledge gaps and important future research directions required for both fully understanding stress tolerance in the mycorrhizal context and addressing ongoing environmental change.
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This content will become publicly available on April 8, 2026
Phytomicrobiome: Commentary on fertile research areas
The phytomicrobiome refers to all the symbiotic microorganisms and microbial genes that interact independently or synergistically with plant tissue and genome. Considerable research is devoted to plant abiotic and biotic stress factors. However, very little is known about the phytomicrobiome as it relates to plant stress and tolerance systems. Microbial tolerance mechanisms are synchronized events involving distinct microbial populations that often result in the suppression of microbial species or propagation of key species that possess genomes responsible for protective anti-stress proteins and pro-tolerance mechanisms that mediate plant health. Filling this research gap is essential to elucidating new knowledge about plant growth and development. Insights into phytomicrobiome and plant health may provide an impetus for new technologies and economic opportunities.
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- PAR ID:
- 10585422
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research
- Volume:
- 61
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 2574 -1241
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 53466
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- phytomicrobiome abiotic biotic plant stress plant tolerance
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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