Howard, N., Williams, A., Durant, E. et al. (3 more authors) (2024) Preferential nitrogen and carbon exchange dynamics in Mucoromycotina “fine root endophyte”-plant symbiosis. Current Biology, 34 (23). 5484-5493.e3. ISSN 0960-9822
Abstract
Mucoromycotina “fine root endophyte” (MFRE) fungi are an understudied group of plant symbionts that regularly co-occur with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The functional significance of MFRE in plant nutrition remains underexplored, particularly their role in plant nitrogen (N) assimilation from the variety of sources typically found in soils. Using four 15N-labeled N sources to track N transfer between MFRE and Plantago lanceolata, applied singly and in tandem, we investigated N source discrimination, preference, and transfer to host plants by MFRE. We traced movement of 14C from plants to MFRE to determine the impact of N source type on plant carbon (C) allocation to MFRE. We found that MFRE preferentially transferred N derived from glycine and ammonium to plant hosts over that derived from nitrate and urea, regardless of other N sources present. MFRE mycelium supplied with glycine and ammonium contained more plant-derived carbon than those supplied with other N sources. We show that the MFRE directly assimilates and metabolizes organic compounds, retaining C to meet its own metabolic requirements and transferring N to plant hosts. Our findings highlight diversity in the function of endomycorrhizal associations, with potentially profound implications for our understanding of the physiology and ecology of plant-fungal symbioses.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Author(s). User License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Keywords: | carbon; fine root endophytes; Mucoromycotina; mutualism; mycorrhizal symbiosis; nitrogen; fungi; plant; Plantago |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Biosciences (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number European Research Council 865225 Natural Environment Research Council 2741900 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 20 Nov 2024 09:15 |
Last Modified: | 15 Mar 2025 01:55 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cell Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.028 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:219883 |