Global assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus diversity reveals very low endemism

TLDR

Plant survival depends on symbiotic soil fungi that exchange nutrients, defend against attacks, and help tolerate environmental changes, yet these fungi were thought to be locally restricted, making their widespread distribution a mystery possibly linked to human agriculture. The study found that many arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are globally distributed, indicating very low endemism. Published in Science, p.

Abstract

Cosmopolitan plant root symbionts The aboveground lives of plants are only sustainable because of the symbiotic soil fungi that encase their roots. These fungi swap nutrients with plants, defend them from attack, and help them withstand abrupt environmental changes. Out of necessity, fungal symbionts in the soil would appear to be restricted and local to certain plant species. Davison et al. , however, discovered that some taxa are globally distributed. How these underground fungi have dispersed so widely remains a mystery; perhaps human farmers have had something to do with it. Science , this issue p. 970