The interactions of soil microbes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and N-fixing bacteria, rhizobium, under different conditions including stress

Abstract

The interaction effects between Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and soil N-fixing bacteria, specifically Rhizobia, is an important process affecting plant growth and hence ecosystem productivity. The symbioses processes between AM fungi and bacteria with the host plant are controlled by some common genes. There is also a very specific tripartite interaction among the host plant, AM fungi, and soil Rhizobia. The genetic exchange between the bacteria interacting with the fungi and with the host plant is also an important aspect affecting the interactions between Rhizobium and mycorrhizal fungi and hence the processes of symbiosis. Such kind of interactions is important from different points of view including the production of inoculums and handling plants under stress. Some other important conclusions are also presented.