From reversing desertification to combating climate change, explore how cutting-edge research in China is unveiling the secrets of these underground allies.
Mycorrhiza, which literally means "fungus-root," describes a beneficial, symbiotic relationship between a specific type of soil fungus and the roots of its host plant 7 .
The most common type, they penetrate the root cells of about 90% of plant species, including most crops, grasses, and tropical trees 7 . They are particularly effective at helping plants uptake phosphorus.
These fungi form a dense sheath around the root tips of primarily woody and tree species, such as pines, oaks, and eucalyptus, without penetrating the root cells themselves 7 . They are crucial for nitrogen uptake.
A pivotal theory emerging from recent Chinese research outlines how the two types of fungi work together to restore ecosystems comprehensively 3 9 . AM fungi and their host plants act as "deep carbon engineers," while ECM fungi and their hosts function as "surface-active stewards" 3 .
Approximately 95% of the world's plant species rely on mycorrhizal associations for optimal growth and survival .
A crucial 2025 pot experiment investigating how Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) help stabilize fragile dryland ecosystems.
The research team conducted a controlled pot experiment to simulate the dryland shrublands of northern China's Mu Us Desert fringe 2 .
The findings revealed that AMF do not simply make the soil food web more complex; they intelligently reshape it based on environmental conditions 2 .
| Soil Water Condition | Rhizosphere Soil Stability | Bulk Soil Stability | Key Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate Drought (6% SWC) | Increased | Decreased | "Bottom-up" resource facilitation; strengthened fungal-bacterial links 2 |
| Extreme Drought (3% SWC) | Decreased | Increased | "Top-down" predatory regulation; shift to fast energy channels 2 |
Mycorrhizal research relies on a suite of specialized materials and biological reagents.
| Reagent/Material | Function in Research | Example from Featured Studies |
|---|---|---|
| AMF Inoculants | To introduce a known, measurable fungal community to plant roots for studying the effects of symbiosis. | Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and Diversispora epigaea were used in pure or mixed form 2 6 . |
| Host Plants | To act as a symbiotic partner for the fungi; different plants associate with different fungi. | Bahiagrass for inoculum production 5 ; Artemisia ordosica for dryland studies 2 ; Soybean 'Wuxing No.2' for saline-alkaline research 6 . |
| Sterilized Growth Media | To provide a clean, controlled substrate free of background microorganisms that could confound results. | Autoclaved soil-sand mixtures were used in pot experiments to ensure only the introduced AMF were present 2 6 . |
| Molecular Biology Kits | To extract and sequence DNA from soil samples, allowing identification of the entire microbial community. | High-throughput sequencing of fungal ITS and bacterial SSU rRNA genes to map micro-food webs 2 8 . |
| Low-Nutrient Fertilizers | To maintain a nutrient environment where the plant depends on its fungal partner. | Fertilization regimes were carefully managed to keep phosphorus levels low, encouraging plant-fungal cooperation 5 6 . |
Pure fungal cultures used to establish controlled symbiotic relationships in experiments.
Advanced molecular techniques to identify and quantify microbial communities in soil samples.
Autoclaved growth substrates that eliminate background microbial interference.
A landmark 2025 study in Nature mapped the global distribution of mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity, revealing critical conservation priorities 8 .
The study predicted that less than 10% of the world's mycorrhizal fungal richness hotspots currently fall within protected areas, making them vulnerable to human activities and climate change 8 .
| Mycorrhizal Type | Richness Hotspots | Endemism (Rarity) Hotspots |
|---|---|---|
| Arbuscular (AM) Fungi | Brazilian Cerrado savannas, Southeast Asian tropical forests, Guinean forests of West Africa, parts of East and North China. | Congo Basin, Eastern Amazon Basin. |
| Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Fungi | Northern forest ecosystems (boreal/taiga), southern regions of South America and Australia. | Tropical conifer forests, with potential undiscovered hotspots in tundra and tropical forests. |
Chinese research directly addresses these global challenges. The "Plant-Mycorrhiza Synergy" framework offers a practical blueprint for ecosystem restoration that can be applied worldwide.
Its validation comes from a 60-year tropical coastal forest restoration project in China, where mixed forests established using these principles showed approximately 40% higher soil carbon storage and significant recovery of local biodiversity compared to monoculture plantations 3 9 .
Mixed forests using mycorrhizal synergy principles vs. monoculture plantations
The state of mycorrhizal research in China, as revealed through SCI-based analyses, is one of dynamic innovation and global leadership. Moving beyond simply observing these hidden partnerships, Chinese scientists are now actively engineering them to solve some of humanity's most pressing environmental problems.
From stabilizing the expanding drylands of northern China to enhancing crop resilience in saline-alkaline soils and creating carbon-rich, biodiverse forests, the application of mycorrhizal research is proving to be a powerful tool.
As this research continues to mature, it promises to place these ancient, underground alliances at the very heart of our efforts to cultivate a more sustainable and resilient future.