Year: 2019
Type: review
Abstract: The extent to which ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi enable plants to access organic nitrogen (N) bound in soil organic matter (SOM) and transfer this growth-limiting nutrient to their plant host, has important implications for our understanding of plant-fungal interactions, and the cycling and storage of carbon (C) and N in terrestrial ecosystems. Empirical evidence currently supports a range of perspectives, suggesting that ECM vary in their ability to provide their host with N bound in SOM, and that this capacity can both positively and negatively influence soil C storage. To help resolve the multiplicity of observations, we gathered a group of researchers to explore the role of ECM fungi in soil C dynamics, and propose new directions that hold promise to resolve competing hypotheses and contrasting observations. In this Viewpoint, we summarize these deliberations and identify areas of inquiry that hold promise for increasing our understanding of these fundamental and widespread plant symbionts and their role in ecosystem-level biogeochemistry.
Source: New Phytologist
DOI: 10.1111/nph.15679
Authors: Donald R. Zak, Peter T. Pellitier, WilliamA. Argiroff, Buck Castillo, Timothy Y. James, Lucas E. Nave, Colin Averill, Kaitlyn V. Beidler, Jennifer Bhatnagar, Jennifer Blesh, Aimée T. Classen, Matthew Craig, Christopher W. Fernandez, Per Gundersen, Renee Johansen, Roger T. Koide, Erik A. Lilleskov, Björn D. Lindahl, Knute J. Nadelhoffer, Richard P. Phillips, Anders Tunlid
Institutions: University of Michigan, Boston University, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, University of Vermont, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota System, University of Copenhagen, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Brigham Young University, US Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lund University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2909109702