Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Differences in Root Endophytic Bacterial Communities of Chinese Cork Oak (Quercus variabilis) Seedlings in Different Growth Years

Researchers used high-throughput sequencing to compare root endophytic bacterial communities in Chinese cork oak seedlings of different ages, finding that seedling age influences the composition and functional potential of root microbiomes in forest regeneration contexts.

2023 Forests 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Symbiosis—A Perspective on the Effects of Host Traits and Environmental Parameters in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Richness, Colonization and Ecological Functions

This review examines how host plant traits and environmental conditions regulate the richness, diversity, and ecological functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The study highlights how these beneficial soil fungi contribute to sustainable agriculture through improved nutrient uptake, disease control, and stress tolerance, while noting that their effectiveness depends on multiple interacting factors.

2023 Agriculture 12 citations
Article Tier 2

In-Forest Planting of High-Value Herb Sarcandra glabra Enhances Soil Carbon Storage without Affecting the Diversity of the Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Community and Composition of Cunninghamia lanceolata

Researchers examined the effects of planting the high-value herb Sarcandra glabra within Cunninghamia lanceolata forests in southern China on soil carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and the diversity and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities over three years. They found that in-forest herb planting enhanced soil carbon storage without significantly disrupting AMF diversity or composition in the host tree species.

2022 Microorganisms 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil Microbial Communities in Pseudotsuga sinensis Forests with Different Degrees of Rocky Desertification in the Karst Region, Southwest China

Researchers studied how increasing levels of rocky desertification in karst forests in southwest China affect soil microbial communities. They found that bacterial diversity declined significantly as desertification worsened, while fungal communities showed more resilience. Key soil properties including pH, organic carbon, and available nitrogen were identified as the main drivers shaping these microbial community shifts.

2023 Forests 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Arbuscular mycorrhizal network-mediated allelochemical transfer: a critical hypothesis of juglone-walnut case and its ecological implications

This review paper summarizes research on how underground fungal networks might help walnut trees spread toxic chemicals that kill nearby plants. The fungi that live on plant roots could act like underground highways, carrying these plant-killing chemicals farther than previously thought. Understanding this process could help farmers grow walnut trees alongside other crops more successfully by managing these helpful fungi.

2026 Plant Growth Regulation
Article Tier 2

Mycorrhizas for a sustainable world

This review synthesizes findings from the 10th International Conference on Mycorrhiza, covering how mycorrhizal fungal associations — present in over 80% of plant species — influence nutrient cycling, ecosystem resilience, and sustainability across scales from individual plants to global ecosystems. The paper highlights research priorities including mycorrhiza-based strategies for sustainable agriculture and restoration.

2020 New Phytologist 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Mycorrhizal-specific responses of rhizosphere soil properties and fine-root traits to polystyrene microplastic addition in a temperate mixed forest

Researchers assessed how polystyrene microplastic additions affect rhizosphere soil properties and fine-root traits in a temperate mixed forest, finding increased available nitrogen but decreased available phosphorus, with contrasting responses between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species.

2025
Article Tier 2

Effects of microbial cultures on bacterial communities in the roots of Phyllostachys edulis

Researchers investigated the effects of applying endophytic bacterial cultures isolated from Phyllostachys edulis on bacterial communities in bamboo root systems and rhizosphere, as well as on soil chemical properties. Seven root samples were collected from experimental plots treated with a mixed culture of four bacteria, revealing how microbial inoculants reshape root-associated microbial communities.

2025
Article Tier 2

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Advantageous Impact on Sustainable Agroecosystems and Bridge between Plants, Soils, and Humans Health

This review discusses how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance sustainable agroecosystems by improving plant nutrient uptake, soil structure, and stress tolerance, with implications for reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and improving food security. The authors explore links between mycorrhizal health, soil microbiome, and human nutrition.

2024 Journal of Life Sciences Research and Reviews
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi attenuate negative impact of drought on soil functions

A meta-analysis combined with greenhouse experiments demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote soil aggregation, microbial biomass, and nutrient-cycling enzyme activity, effectively buffering soil functions against drought. This protective effect is relevant to microplastic concerns because soil health is increasingly threatened by plastic pollution, and understanding natural soil defense mechanisms is important for protecting agricultural ecosystems.

2024 Global Change Biology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Management affects the diversity and functions of root and leaf-associated microbiomes: implications for olive resilience

Researchers studied how different farming practices, including organic, conventional, and traditional methods, shape the microbial communities associated with olive tree roots and leaves. They found that agricultural management significantly influenced microbiome diversity and functional traits, with organic practices generally supporting more beneficial microbe populations. The findings suggest that farming methods play an important role in the overall health and resilience of olive trees.

2026 Frontiers in Plant Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Multi-Trophic Species Diversity Contributes to the Restoration of Soil Multifunctionality in Degraded Karst Forests through Cascading Effects

Researchers found that multi-trophic species diversity plays a critical role in restoring soil multifunctionality in degraded karst forests, with cascading effects across trophic levels enhancing ecosystem recovery.

2024 Forests 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The mycorrhizal symbiosis: research frontiers in genomics, ecology, and agricultural application

This review covers the latest advances in understanding mycorrhizal fungi, which form partnerships with plant roots to help them absorb nutrients and resist stress. While not directly about microplastics, mycorrhizal networks play a critical role in soil health, and research shows that microplastic contamination in soil can disrupt these beneficial fungal partnerships. Healthy mycorrhizal networks may also help buffer plants against some negative effects of soil pollutants, including microplastics.

2024 New Phytologist 187 citations
Article Tier 2

Physio-Biochemical Mechanisms of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhancing Plant Resistance to Abiotic Stress

This review explores how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial soil organisms that form partnerships with plant roots, help crops cope with environmental stresses like drought, salinity, and heavy metal contamination. The fungi improve nutrient uptake, water absorption, and antioxidant defenses while triggering beneficial hormonal responses in host plants. The authors note that wider agricultural use of these fungi is limited by challenges in mass production and variability across different crops and soil conditions.

2024 Agriculture 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Shifts in maize microbial communities and networks are correlated with the soil soil chemical property under different fertilization regimes

A corn field experiment compared how different fertilizers — chemical versus organic — shaped soil microbial communities and their interaction networks. Organic fertilizers altered both the diversity and connections between soil microbes, which has implications for soil health and agricultural sustainability.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

How Organic Mulching Influences the Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Function in Urban Forests

Researchers tested how different types of organic mulch affect the bacterial communities in urban forest soils. They found that wood chips and compost changed the soil's chemical properties and shifted the types of bacteria present, particularly those involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling. The study suggests that organic mulching could be a practical tool for improving the microbial health of urban soils.

2024 Microorganisms 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Rhizosphere Microbiome, Soil Chemical Properties, and Plant Biomass and Nutrients in Citrus reticulata cv. Shatangju Exposed to Increasing Soil Cu Levels

This study characterized rhizosphere microbiome composition, soil chemical properties, and plant biochemistry in relation to soil management practices, finding that treatment type drives distinct rhizosphere microbial communities with functional consequences for plant health.

2024 Plants
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic types and shapes on the community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in different soil types

Researchers examined how different types and shapes of microplastics affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities across various soil types. The study found that microplastics alter soil structure and chemistry in ways that disrupt these beneficial fungi, which play crucial roles in nutrient exchange, soil stability, and water movement.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different microplastics on the activation of soil potassium by ectomycorrhizal fungi

This study found that both polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics hindered the growth of an ectomycorrhizal fungus and reduced how much potassium it could release from soil for plants, with PLA being the more harmful of the two. The findings matter because mycorrhizal fungi are critical for forest nutrient cycling, and microplastic contamination of soils could quietly degrade this ecosystem service.

2026 Global NEST Journal
Article Tier 2

Physiological response of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Lactarius delicious) to microplastics stress

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus was exposed to polystyrene microplastics in soil, showing disrupted growth, altered enzyme activity, and oxidative stress responses. The findings highlight microplastics as a threat to soil fungi that play critical roles in forest nutrient cycling and tree health.

2022 Global NEST Journal 8 citations