Synergies between mycorrhizal fungi and soil microbial communities increase plant nitrogen acquisition

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0481-8
• Publication Date: 2019-06-21T10:02:39Z
• Authors: Rachel Hestrin; Edith C. Hammer; Carsten W. Mueller; Johannes Lehmann
• Keywords: Mycorrhizal Fungi; Soil fungi; Fungal Diversity; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract Nitrogen availability often restricts primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous symbionts of plants and can improve plant nitrogen acquisition, but have a limited ability to access organic nitrogen. Although other soil biota mineralize into bioavailable forms, they may simultaneously compete for nitrogen, with unknown consequences nutrition. Here, we show that synergies between the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis microbial communities highly non-additive effect on acquisition by model grass Brachypodium distachyon . These multipartite result doubling acquire from matter tenfold increase compared non-mycorrhizal grown absence communities. This previously unquantified relationship contribute more than 70 Tg annually assimilated thereby playing critical role global nutrient cycling ecosystem function.