Growing Research Networks on Mycorrhizae for Mutual Benefits

Research on mycorrhizal interactions has traditionally developed into separate disciplines addressing different organizational levels. This separation has led to an incomplete understanding of mycorrhizal functioning. Integration of mycorrhiza research at different scales is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the context dependency of mycorrhizal associations, and to use mycorrhizae for solving environmental issues. Here, we provide a road map for the integration of mycorrhiza research into a unique framework that spans genes to ecosystems. Using two key topics, we identify parallels in mycorrhiza research at different organizational levels. Based on two current projects, we show how scientific integration creates synergies, and discuss future directions. Only by overcoming disciplinary boundaries, we will achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the functioning of mycorrhizal associations.
All authors acknowledge funding from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG;FZT118) .A.M.M.,A.B.,M.P.,S.R., and N.M.v.D.acknowledge stimulating discussions within COSTActionFA1405 and funding from EUMC-ITNMiRA(grantno.765290).I.C.M. acknowledges financial supportfromtheDFG(grantno.ME4156/2-1)and Volkswagen Foundation [grantno.11-76251- 99-34/13 (ZN2928)].M.C.R.acknowledgesfundingfromtheEuropeanResearchCouncil(ERC,AdvancedGrant ‘Gradual Change’) andBMBFfundingfortheproject ‘Bridging inBiodiversityScience(BIBS)’. M.P.acknowledgessupportfrom MINECO (grantno.AGL2015-64990-C2-1-R).I.F.acknowledgessupportfromiDivFlexpoolProgram(grantno.RA-185/ 17). O.F.andN.E.acknowledgesupportfromtheERC(EuropeanUnion’s Horizon2020researchandinnovationprogram, grant no.677232).S.R.acknowledgestheSwissScienceFoundation(grantno.159869).F.B.,S.H.,andM.T.acknowl- edge DFGfor financial support(GrantsBU941/20-1andTA290/4-1).AlltheauthorsacknowledgesupportfromtheiDiv Open SciencePublicationFund.