Table 2. Key benefits of different root-fungal symbioses for host plants.
| Symbiosis | Benefits for host | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| ABM: Arbutoid Mycorrhiza | aPresumably, similar benefits as the ECM symbiosis | Münzenberger, Kottke & Oberwinkler (1992) |
| AM: Arbuscular Mycorrhiza | Improved mineral nutrition (P and Zn, in particular); tolerance against biotic (pathogens) and abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metals; improved soil health and structure | Smith & Read (2008), Sikes (2010), Hildebrandt, Regvar & Bothe (2007) |
| DSE: Dark Septate Endophytes | Breaking down various organic substances and releasing nutrients; protection against plant pathogens, herbivores, and abiotic stresses such as heat, presumably due to the fungal capability of synthesizing antibacterial and antifungal compounds, toxic secondary metabolites, or high melanin contents of hyphae | Jumpponen & Trappe (1998), Newsham (1999), Newsham (2011) |
| ECM: Ectomycorrhiza | Improved plant vigour and access to nutrients that are tightly fixed in complex organic matter or soil particles (N and P in particular); alleviating stresses caused by soil-borne pathogens and abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity; ameliorating the CO2 fertilization effect; accelerating weathering of rocks and releasing essential nutrients; decomposition of soil organic matter, tolerance to P toxicity | Landeweert et al. (2001), Smith & Read (2008), Terrer et al. (2016), Kariman et al. (2014b) |
| EEM: Ectendomycorrhiza | Hydrolyzing complex polysaccharides and supplying C to young host seedlings prior to the beginning of their autotrophism; possibly involved in revegetation of disturbed sites and establishment of conifer seedlings post-fire | Trevor et al. (2001); Navarro-Ródenas et al. (2012) |
| ERM: Ericoid Mycorrhiza | Assisting plants to survive in nutrient impoverished habitats through mineralization and acquisition of nutrients from soil organic sources | Read, Leake & Perez-Moreno (2004) |
| FAM: Fire-Associated Mutualism | Thermotolerance and fire adaptation by enhancing both probability of fire (via increased plant biomass) and plant survival (larger underground seed bank) | Baynes et al. (2011) |
| FM: Feremycorrhiza | Improved plant growth and nutrition mainly via increasing nutrient solubilization and mobilization; tolerance to P toxicity | Kariman et al. (2014a), Kariman et al. (2014b) |
| FRE: Fine Root Endophytes | Possibly involved in tolerance against extreme environmental conditions such as high altitude, soil acidity, cold temperatures, and waterlogging. Functional traits are not well known | Postma, Olsson & Falkengren-Grerup (2007), Orchard et al. (2016) |
| MTM: Monotropoid Mycorrhiza | Supplying C (sourced from neighbouring trees) to mycoheterotrophic host plants | Tedersoo et al. (2007), Hynson et al. (2013) |
| OM: Orchid mycorrhiza | Feeding host plants during their mycoheterotrophic phase, mainly through breaking down simple/complex organic matter | Cameron, Leake & Read (2006) |
| SE: Sebacinalean Endophytes | Improved growth and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses such as salinity | Varma et al. (2001), Weiss et al. (2011), Weiss et al. (2016) |
| SERM: Sheathed Ericoid Mycorrhiza | aPresumably, similar benefits as the ERM symbiosis | Vohnik et al. (2012) |
Notes.
a
There is limited experimental evidence about the potential benefits for host plants.