Abstract
SummaryThe role that common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) play in plant‐to‐plant transfer of zinc (Zn) has not yet been investigated, despite the proved functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in crop Zn acquisition. Here, two autotrophic Medicago truncatula plants were linked by a CMN formed by Rhizophagus irregularis. Plants were grown in vitro in physically separated compartments (Donor‐C and Receiver‐C) and their connection ensured only by CMN. A symbiosis‐defective mutant of M. truncatula was used as control in Receiver‐C. Plants in both compartments were grown on Zn‐free medium, and only the leaves of the donor plants were Zn fertilized. A direct transfer of Zn was demonstrated from donor leaves to receiver shoots mediated by CMN. Direct transfer of Zn was supported by changes in the expression of fungal genes, RiZRT1 and RiZnT1, and plant gene MtZIP2 in roots and MtNAS1 in roots and shoots of the receiver plants. Moreover, Zn transfer was supported by the change in expression of MtZIP14 gene in AM fungal colonized roots. This work is the first evidence of a direct Zn transfer from a donor to a receiver plant via CMN, and of a triggering of transcriptional regulation of fungal‐plant genes involved in Zn transport‐related processes.
Highlights
An increasing number of studies have reported the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to connect plants belonging to the same or different species, genera and families in common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs)
Further laboratory studies suggested that ubiquitous AM fungal species, such as Funnneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, interconnected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and faba bean (Vicia faba) plants separated by a distance up to 15 cm (Song et al, 2010; Babikova et al, 2013)
Hyphal length per root length and hyphal length per AM fungal colonized root length were significantly higher in the Receiver-C as compared with the donor compartment (Donor-C) irrespectively of Zn application
Summary
An increasing number of studies have reported the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to connect plants belonging to the same or different species, genera and families in common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs). The capacity of AMF to develop such CMNs is related to their wide host range, even though a variability in host specificity among AMF has been found (Öpik et al, 2009; Veresoglou and Rillig, 2014; Ciccolini et al, 2016; Davison et al, 2020) These CMNs have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their presumed roles in the transfer of nutrients and photosynthetic C between interconnected plants (e.g., Newman et al, 1994; He et al, 2003; Simard et al, 2003; Selosse et al, 2006; Voets et al, 2008; Fellbaum et al, 2014), playing key roles in the functioning of ecosystems (van der Heijden et al, 1998). Further laboratory studies suggested that ubiquitous AM fungal species, such as Funnneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, interconnected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and faba bean (Vicia faba) plants separated by a distance up to 15 cm (Song et al, 2010; Babikova et al, 2013)
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