Summary
This project will advance understanding of how beneficial soil fungi and bacteria interact to improve plant nutrition and support sustainable agriculture. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic partnerships with most land plants, helping roots acquire nutrients, while bacteria associated with fungal hyphae can influence fungal growth, colonization, and nutrient exchange. However, the mechanisms governing these cross-kingdom interactions remain poorly understood. This work will address a fundamental question in soil ecology and plant biology: how mycorrhizal fungi recruit helpful bacteria
