Underground fungal networks come into 3D view without disturbing plant roots
Symbioses between plants and fungi are essential for most plants. Fungal structures known as mycorrhizae extend the area from which plants can draw water and nutrients from the soil. In return, plants supply the fungi with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. Although the importance of this symbiosis has been known for decades, researchers have not previously been able to study the…
A groundbreaking imaging technique has revealed the intricate underground fungal networks that surround plant roots, without causing any damage to the delicate root system. This method, based on synchrotron computed tomography, allows researchers to visualize the finest structures of mycorrhizae, the symbiotic fungal structures that extend the reach of plants for water and nutrients.
Until now, studying this network in its natural state had been impossible due to the methods used in previous imaging techniques, which often destroyed the fine structures and spatial connections between plants and fungi.
The new approach involves placing the entire plant, including its roots, in a basket and then scanning it with synchrotron radiation. The high-resolution projection images are then used to reconstruct a 3D model, revealing the plant roots, fungal hyphae, and fungal spores all together in their natural environment. This method has opened up a "black box" of plant research, enabling scientists to study the entire network in its natural habitat for the first time.
The implications of this discovery are significant, as understanding the dynamics of mycorrhizal networks can help improve our knowledge of how plants and fungi interact in the soil. This, in turn, could lead to the development of strategies to enhance plant resilience to drought and other consequences of climate change. Professor Mutez Ahmed, lead researcher on the project, emphasizes that the better we understand these symbiotic relationships, the better we can harness their potential benefits.
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