On the shelves in your local garden supply store, you may have noticed products labeled “mycorrhizal fungi” and wondered what their purpose is and whether they would benefit your garden. They have ... Mycorrhizal fungi form a vast underground network that supplies plants with water and nutrients in exchange for sugars.

Understanding the Context

This symbiotic relationship, which began 450 million years ago, was essential ... Just beneath your feet, an ancient and silent alliance endures. This alliance between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is one of the oldest biological partnerships on Earth. Going back ...

Key Insights

Mycorrhizal fungi form one of the most widespread and ancient symbiotic associations with land plants, underpinning critical ecosystem functions. Through intricate mutualistic relationships, these ... Since time immemorial, plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have coexisted in a mutually beneficial relationship. The fungi colonize plant roots and help them absorb nutrients. In return, plants ...

Final Thoughts

A recent study estimates that more than 13 billion metric tons of CO2 from terrestrial plants are passed on to mycorrhizal fungi each year, equivalent to about 36% of global fossil fuel emissions. The ... The Conversation: If plants can pick fungi to help fight pests and diseases, it opens a door to greener farming and ecosystem recovery If plants can pick fungi to help fight pests and diseases, it opens a door to greener farming and ecosystem recovery