Inter-plant communication through mycorrhizal networks mediates complex adaptive behaviour in plant communities

Gorzelak, M. A., Asay, A. K., Pickles, B. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9809-6455 and Simard, S. W. (2015) Inter-plant communication through mycorrhizal networks mediates complex adaptive behaviour in plant communities. AoB Plants, 7. plv050. ISSN 2041-2851 doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plv050

Abstract/Summary

Adaptive behaviour of plants, including rapid changes in physiology, gene regulation and defence response, can be altered when linked to neighbouring plants by a mycorrhizal network (MN). Mechanisms underlying the behavioural changes include mycorrhizal fungal colonization by the MN or interplant communication via transfer of nutrients, defence signals or allelochemicals. We focus this review on our new findings in ectomycorrhizal ecosystems, and also review recent advances in arbuscular mycorrhizal systems. We have found that the behavioural changes in ectomycorrhizal plants depend on environmental cues, the identity of the plant neighbour and the characteristics of the MN. The hierarchical integration of this phenomenon with other biological networks at broader scales in forest ecosystems, and the consequences we have observed when it is interrupted, indicate that underground ‘tree talk’ is a foundational process in the complex adaptive nature of forest ecosystems.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/48102
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Publisher	Oxford University Press
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