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The symbiotic interaction between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is often perceived as beneficial for both partners, though a large ecological literature highlights the context dependency of this interaction. Changes in abiotic variables, such as nutrient availability, can drive the interaction along the mutualism-parasitism continuum with variable outcomes for plant growth and fitness. However, AM fungi can benefit plants in more ways than improved phosphorus nutrition and plant growth. For example, AM fungi can promote abiotic and biotic stress tolerance even when considered parasitic from a nutrient provision perspective. Other than being obligate biotrophs, very little is known about the benefits AM fungi gain from plants. In this review, we utilize both molecular biology and ecological approaches to expand our understanding of the plant–AM fungal interaction across disciplines.
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This content will become publicly available on January 31, 2026
Determinants of Plant-Mycorrhizal Fungal Distributions and Function Under Global Change
As temperatures rise, plants are expected to shift their ranges to align with their abiotic niches. If plants do not encounter suitable mycorrhizal fungi in new habitats, however, these migrations may fail. We review the literature to describe how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, and ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi currently vary within and beyond host plants’ ranges and how these mycorrhizal fungi shape plant ranges. We introduce a framework that predicts when plants are likely to encounter suitable mycorrhizal mutualists in new habitats. Critically, the probability of beneficial plant-mycorrhizal fungal interactions depends on 1) plants’ specificity to mycorrhizal fungi, 2) abiotic distance between historic and new ranges, 3) plants’ relatedness to new range plants, 4) geographic distance between historic and new ranges, and 5) the alignment of plant and mycorrhizal fungal niches, all of which are moderated by mycorrhizal guild. Finally, we review research frontiers in the field of plant-mycorrhizal fungal interactions.
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- PAR ID:
- 10615085
- Publisher / Repository:
- Annu. Rev. Ecol. 56: | DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102723-051821, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5107835 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5107835
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Annu. Rev. Ecol.
- ISSN:
- 1543-592X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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