The functional importance of plant-fungal interactions in agri-ecosystems

Most land plants have evolved symbioses with soil-borne mycorrhizal fungi, which provide nutritional benefits to both partners and are key to their fitness. The functioning of the mycorrhizal symbiosis is rarely considered in agriculture but may provide key benefits to solving the food security challenge. In this exciting project, we will investigate how different land management strategies, such as fertiliser use and reseeding, affect the ability of plants to interact with mycorrhizal fungi. We will test hypotheses concerning reciprocal exchange of nutrients between plants and mycorrhizal fungi, how so-called ‘common mycorrhizal fungal networks’, which connect many individual plants simultaneously, can facilitate plant growth, nutrition and fitness, and how the symbiosis affects interactions with common agricultural pests. The project will use state-of-the-art isotopic analysers and manipulation experiments to quantify nutrient flows and test how fungal mycelium regulates plants performance. The work will be analysed in the context of the need to develop sustainable food security strategies.