Ectomycorrhizal Interactions in Fungal Communities

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses are widespread mutualistic associations between the hyphal networks of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota fungi and the fine roots of over 6,000 species of woody plants. Through this partnership, fungi receive photosynthetically derived carbon from the host plant and, in return, mobilise and transport mineral nutrients—especially nitrogen and phosphorus—from soil organic matter and mineral horizons. Beyond the two‐party exchange, ECM fungi shape complex soil-dwelling communities by modifying soil chemistry, altering pH and redox potential, and fostering niches for bacteria, microfungi and other soil biota. Such interconnections influence seedling establishment in boreal and temperate forests, drive carbon sequestration in forest soils and underpin ecosystem resilience to stressors such as drought or pathogen invasion. Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities often coexist with saprotrophic and endophytic fungi, competing or cooperating to decompose organic substrates. Their spatial arrangement can give rise to striking patterns such as fairy rings, reflecting feedbacks between fungal growth dynamics and plant responses. Understanding these multi-kingdom interactions is central to forestry management, restoration ecology and sustainable agriculture, where harnessing ECM networks can improve soil health, promote plant growth and mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A novel process-based mathematical model has been developed to reproduce the spatial configuration and dynamics of fungal mycelia associated with fairy rings. By simulating the production and diffusion of self-inhibitory compounds within the hyphal network, the model explains why ring-shaped growth predominates over uniform expansion. The work further demonstrates that soil hydrophobicity alone can account for the negative effects on surrounding vegetation, whereas reproduction of positive plant-growth stimulation requires the inclusion of phytostimulant release. These simulations provide quantitative predictions for laboratory and field experiments, offering a framework to dissect mechanistic links between ECM fungal expansion, soil chemical feedbacks and host plant responses across landscapes.

Ectomycorrhizal Interactions in Fungal Communities publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ectomycorrhizal interactions in fungal communities across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ectomycorrhiza: A symbiotic structure formed by the association of fungal hyphae with the roots of vascular plants, facilitating bidirectional nutrient exchange.

Hyphosphere: The microenvironment immediately surrounding fungal hyphae, shaped by exuded compounds and serving as a niche for microbial associates.

Mycorrhiza helper bacteria: Bacteria that enhance the establishment, function or lifespan of mycorrhizal associations through nutrient solubilisation or hormone production.

Mycelium: The vegetative, filamentous network of fungal hyphae that explores soil volumes and mediates resource acquisition and communication.

References

1. Process based modelling of plants–fungus interactions explains fairy ring types and dynamics. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Distinctive Feature of Microbial Communities and Bacterial Functional Profiles in Tricholoma matsutake Dominant Soil. PLOS ONE (2016).
3. The Influence of Microfungi on the Mycelial Growth of Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Tricholoma matsutake. Microorganisms (2019).
4. Fungal Hyphosphere Microbiomes Are Distinct from Surrounding Substrates and Show Consistent Association Patterns. Microbiology Spectrum (2023).