Cereal mycorrhiza: an ancient symbiosis in modern agriculture

• Published in: Trends in plant science Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 93 - 97
• Main Authors: Sawers, Ruairidh J.H., Gutjahr, Caroline, Paszkowski, Uta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2008; [Kidlington, Oxford, UK]: Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agriculture; agronomic traits; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; grain crops; literature reviews; Molecular and cellular biology; Mycorrhizae - physiology; mycorrhizal fungi; new variety; Phosphates - metabolism; plant breeding; Poaceae - growth & development; Poaceae - metabolism; Poaceae - microbiology; symbiosis; Symbiosis - physiology; vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae; Symbiosis; Domestication; Review; Mycorrhiza
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2007.11.006

The majority of terrestrial plants live in association with symbiotic fungi that facilitate mineral nutrient uptake. The oldest and most prevalent of these associations are the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses that first evolved ∼400 million years ago, coinciding with the appearance of the first land plants. Crop domestication, in comparison, is a relatively recent event, beginning ∼10
000 years ago. How has the dramatic change from wild to cultivated ecosystems impacted AM associations, and do these ancient symbioses potentially have a role in modern agriculture? Here, we review recent advances in AM research and the use of breeding approaches to generate new crop varieties that enhance the agronomic potential of AM associations.