Research progress on mechanism of arbuscular common mycorrhizal networks in plant-plant interactions

Abstract

Plant-plant interactions is one of the key field in ecology, which is important for the efficient nutrient utilization, productivity improvement, and plant community assembly. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are important plant mutualistic microorganisms that connect plant roots to form common mycelial networks (CMNs), which play major roles in transferring nutrients and water and regu-lating plant community dynamics. Recent studies demonstrated that these CMNs could act as conduits for transmitting disease and aphid-induced signals among plants, and activating chemical defence in uninfested neighboring plants. In this review, we introduced recent research advances on the contribution of CMNs on plant interaction, the main factors that influences the functions of CMNs, and the role of CMNs transfer and redistribute nutrients and water among plant. In addition, the mechanism underlying underground chemical signal communication, seedling establishment and plants community assembly were summarized. Finally, we proposed challenges facing CMNs in plant-plant interactions and the practical problems. It would provide reference for further understanding the ecological functions of CMNs in plant-plant interactions.