Ancient AMF symbioses can be seen as the bridge between plants and soils (Saia and Jansa, 2022; Kuyper and Jansa, 2023). The AMF symbionts are influenced by the forms and levels of nutrients in the soil, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Yu et al. pointed out that AMF are sensitive to N addition over short timescales (1 year). Beneficial AMF associations are promoted under N-deficient conditions (Bonfante and Genre, 2010; Sanchez-Bel et al., 2016; Sánchez-Bel et al., 2018). Additionally, ammonium reduced AMF colonization levels in numerous plant species compared to nitrate (Pattinson et al., 2000).

Two noteworthy perspectives highlight the important roles of AMF symbiosis in plant invasion in agro-ecosystems based on greenhouse experiments. Du et al. revealed that the AMF Septoglomus constrictum provides host plants with higher N and P accumulation, conferring invasive plants with greater advantages over native congeners. Chen et al., through the analysis of AMF community associated with the invasive species Solidago canadensis and its native congener S. decurrens, clarified that AMF could confer invasive plants with greater advantages over native congeners, dependent on the forms of P in the soil.

Inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) is the available form of P that plants can acquire and utilize. However, Pi is often insufficient in the field due to its low solubility and relative immobilization (Nagy et al., 2009). Under P starvation, AMF can efficiently promote Pi uptake and homeostasis in host plants (Dierks et al., 2021). In this Research Topic, Zhang et al. identify a HLH domain containing transcription factor, RiPho4, from Rhizophagus irregularis. Through subcellular localization, yeast one-hybrid experiments, and using virus-induced gene silencing approaches, the authors demonstrated that RiPho4 acts as a transcriptional activator in AMF to maintain arbuscule development and regulate Pi uptake in host plants during Pi starvation. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying how AMF regulates Pi uptake in host plants under Pi deficiency.

Apart from N and Pi, the AMF-plant interaction is also sensitive to changes in soil K nutrient (Han et al., 2023). In a greenhouse experiment, Yuan et al. investigated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]), a versatile crop with high K requirements for enhanced yield. Their study showed that K application and the presence of AMF Claroideoglomus etunicatum exhibited a synergistic effect on the root development and K acquisition of the “Xu28” variety of sweet potato, which has high K use efficiency, resulting in significant yield promotion. These results, combined with previous studies, expand our knowledge of the influences of soil nutrients on plant-AMF symbiosis.

Heavy metal contamination in soil is a pressing global issue (Marrugo-Negrete et al., 2017) that affects plant-fungal interactions (Motaharpoor et al., 2019). Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are ubiquitous colonizers of plant roots in various terrestrial ecosystems, often found in stressful environments, especially heavy metal-polluted soils (Su et al., 2021). Wang et al. highlighted the ability of Exophiala pisciphila H93, a beneficial dark septate endophyte which colonizes maize roots, to withstand cadmium exposure without compromising its growth-promotion effect on maize. They found that H93 colonization enhances plant resistance to heavy metal by influencing the expression of genes involved in signal transduction, hormonal pathway, and glutathione metabolism.

The response of the plant-associated fungal community to global changes plays a crucial role in understanding carbon and N cycling processes in agro- and forest ecosystems (Falkowski et al., 2008). In this Research Topic, Yu et al. demonstrated that the interaction between N addition and rainfall patterns has significant effects on soil fungal diversity in a grassland ecosystem. Similarly, Zhao et al. showed in a forest ecosystem that climate factors, such as temperature and precipitation, significantly influence dominant fungal genera and functional guilds in soil, particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, fungal diversity and composition are strongly influenced by seasonal variation in soil nutrients, including total N and available P. The effect of vegetation type on rhizosphere microbes is also of great interest across different ecosystems. Liu et al. compared fungal communities in the rhizosphere of three typical vegetation types (herb, shrubs, and arbors). They discovered that the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere can vary across vegetation types and is primarily governed by deterministic processes. Additionally, plant metabolism has a significant impact on the plant-associated microbiome (Trivedi et al., 2020). Zhu et al. demonstrated that by applying exogenous salicylic acid, beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms were selectively enriched to enhance watermelon resistance to Fusarium wilt. These community analyses provide insights into the potential of plant-associated fungi in sustainable agriculture.

In this Research Topic, the majority of the studies aimed to elucidate the influences of changing environmental conditions, particularly soil nutrients, on plant-fungal symbiosis. However, more efforts are needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying how nutrient factors drive the maintenance and breakdown of plant-fungi symbionts. Additionally, limited studies have been conducted under field conditions, which could provide better guidance for agricultural production. We anticipate further novel discoveries in the future.

KS wrote the manuscript. All authors reviewed and revised the manuscript.