Hyphal exploration strategies and habitat modification of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in microengineered soil chips

Edith C. Hammer*, Carlos Arellano-Caicedo, Paola Micaela Mafla-Endara, E. Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu, Pelle Ohlsson, Kristin Aleklett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered ecosystem engineers, but the interactions of their mycelium with their immediate surroundings are largely unknown. In this study, we used microfluidic chips, simulating artificial soil structures, to study foraging strategies and habitat modification of Rhizophagus irregularis symbiotically associated to carrot roots. AMF hyphae foraged over long distances in nutrient-void spaces, preferred straight over tortuous passages, anastomosed and showed strong inducement of branching when encountering obstacles. We measured bi-directional transport of cellular content inside active hyphae and documented strategic allocation of biomass within the mycelium via cytoplasm retraction from inefficient paths. R. irregularis modified pore-spaces in the chips by clogging pores with irregularly shaped spores. We suggest that studying AMF hyphal behaviour in spatial settings can explain phenomena reported at bulk scale such as AMF modification of water retention in soils. The use of microfluidic soil chips in AMF research opens up novel opportunities to study their ecophysiology and interactions with both biotic and abiotic factors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101302
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalFungal Ecology
Volume67
Early online date24 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
ECH recognizes funding from the Swedish Research Council ( VR-621-2014-5912 ), the Foundation for Strategic Research (Future research leader grant SSF FFL18-0089 ) and the strategic research environment BECC. ETK was supported by an NWO-VICI (202.012), ETK and TS were supported by HFSP ( RGP 0029 ). KA recognises funding from the Swedish Research Council (VR 2022–03505 ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

Funding

ECH recognizes funding from the Swedish Research Council ( VR-621-2014-5912 ), the Foundation for Strategic Research (Future research leader grant SSF FFL18-0089 ) and the strategic research environment BECC. ETK was supported by an NWO-VICI (202.012), ETK and TS were supported by HFSP ( RGP 0029 ). KA recognises funding from the Swedish Research Council (VR 2022–03505 ).

Keywords

  • AMF
  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
  • Behaviour
  • Fungi-on-a-chip
  • Hyphal behaviour
  • Microfluidics
  • Mycorrhizal traits
  • Rhizophagus irregularis
  • Soil chips
  • Soil pore space

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