Mycorrhizal research now: from the micro‐ to the macro‐scale

Abstract

Mycorrhizal symbioses are complex relationships between plants and fungi that significantly affect ecosystem dynamics and functions across terrestrial environments. These symbiotic interactions, which involve a diverse range of fungal lineages, including Mucoromycotina, Glomeromycotina, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota, as well as various plant hosts, are critical for nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, plant growth, and resilience of both partners to environmental stressors. Recent advances in molecular biology, genetics, and ecosystem sciences have enhanced our understanding of mycorrhizal symbioses and illuminated the mechanisms that govern these intricate interactions and their ecological implications.In this New Phytologist Special Issue on 'Mycorrhizal research now: from the micro-to the macro-scale', we bring together a collection of studies, which examine various types of mycorrhizal symbioses, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal, orchid mycorrhizal, ericoid mycorrhizal, and ectomycorrhizal associations. These studies explored the molecular, physiological, and ecological dimensions of mycorrhizal interactions, uncovering the complex conversations between plants and fungi and illuminating their broader ecological implications. By integrating molecular, physiological, and ecological perspectives, this collection endeavors to untangle the multifaceted interactions between plants and fungi and their cascading effects on terrestrial ecosystems. Through distilling the key insights from these diverse studies, our goal is to identify emerging themes and future directions for mycorrhizal research.