Funghi micorrizici arbuscolari e piante: un’avventura iniziata più di 400 milioni di anni fa

Plants do not live alone: since they conquered terrestrial habitats about 450 million years ago, they have coexisted with a plethora of microorganisms, giving rise to the so-called plant microbiota. Among them a crucial role is played by some soil fungi, identified as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which colonize the roots of seventy-two percent of plants. This extraordinary ecological success is explained by a nutrient exchange that is beneficial for both partners: the fungus improves the mineral nutrition of the host plant by acting as a biofertilizer, while simultaneously gaining access to plant-derived reduced carbon sources. Molecular biology, genomic sequencing, omics techniques, and genetics are now trying to decipher the regulatory processes that allow such evolutionarily distant organisms to live together. Considering the current situation of global changes, the hope is to utilize the potential benefits of this symbiotic association to promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.