Symbiotic Interactions between Mycorrhizae and Root in Different Conditions of Nitrogen

Dear Colleagues,

As is well known, after carbon, nitrogen is the most important macronutrient for plant metabolism and is a key component of amino acids, which form the building blocks for plant proteins and enzymes. In this field, the cause of nutrient deficiency in a plant can occur when the rapid absorption of soil solutes occurs, there is low nutrient concentration, a low diffusion rate or low soil moisture. These conditions occur very frequently; in this way, most plants rely on mycorrhizal fungi to facilitate the absorption of minerals from soil. Mycorrhizae form symbiotic associations with the roots of plants, which allows them to integrate into the physical structure of the root through interesting biomolecular mechanisms. As is well known, some studies have shown that endomycorrhization not only captures mineral nutrients from the soil that are inaccessible to the plant, but in particular, with regard to nitrogen, endomycorrhization transfers it to the roots in an assimilable form, such as ammonium or even as amino acid. Many studies in molecular biology and biochemistry have revealed the value, functionality and strategic advantages of mycorrhizal symbiosis. This basic research regarding a small number of AMF species and only a few completely sequenced genomes is the foundation of applied research that is beginning to produce encouraging results in the agronomic field. Future progress in the utilization of plant–fungi symbiosis for agriculture, horticulture, arboriculture and silviculture will depend on improving current knowledge through:

• A deeper understanding of how AMF function;
• The selection of AMF strains that differ in their ability to provide mineral nutrition and vegetative development with a greater number of plant species;
• The development of new AMF mixtures to cover a wider range of plant species;
• The development of technologies that allow the massive cultivation of AMF at low production costs.

Progress in these four areas of plant–fungi symbiosis technology can lead to the molecular engineering of AMF and their associated microorganisms and plant species. Applied research utilizing these improved AMF and associated microorganisms to improve plant–fungi symbiosis in modern crop production systems has the potential to increase the yield and crop quality of a wide range of economically valuable plant species.

Dr. Catello Di Martino
Guest Editor

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• arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
• soil
• organisms
• plant microbiome
• cell responses
• interface
• signals
• exudates
• rhizosphere
• nitrogen
• phosphate
• nutrient exchange
• transport and metabolism in mycorrhizal roots
• regulatory mechanism
• transcription factor
• transcriptomics