Forest ecosystems are critical carbon (C) sinks, storing globally significant amounts of terrestrial carbon in soil organic matter (SOM). Mycorrhizal networks, formed by fungal hyphae connecting plant roots, are pivotal in mediating C allocation, stabilization, and turnover in soils. While mycorrhizal fungi are known to influence C stabilization through interactions with roots, SOM, and microbial communities, their specific roles in regulating C dynamics—particularly under global changes—remain poorly understood. Traditional models often overlooked the functional divergence between arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) networks and their interactions with soil microbes and abiotic conditions, limiting predictive insights into forest C sink dynamics.

Despite growing recognition of mycorrhizal networks in forest C cycles, key knowledge gaps persist: ii) the mechanistic differences in how AM/ECM hyphae influence C allocation to SOM versus microbial respiration; ii) the sensitivity of mycorrhizal C pathways to nutrient imbalances (e.g., N/P stoichiometry); and iii) the scalability of mycorrhizal effects across spatial/temporal scales and forest types. Recent advances in stable isotope tracing, high-throughput sequencing, and imaging technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to resolve these complexities. This Research Topic aims to synthesize multidisciplinary insights to address these gaps, with a focus on disentangling mycorrhizal contributions to C stabilization under global change (e.g., N deposition, warming, and land-use change). By integrating empirical data and modeling approaches, the collection aims to refine conceptual frameworks of mycorrhizal-mediated C dynamics and enhance predictions of forest resilience to global change.

To gather further insights in the role of mycorrhizal networks in forest C stabilization by synthesizing cutting-edge research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

-Disentangling the differential contributions of AM and ECM hyphae to C accumulation in SOM versus release via microbial respiration;

-Quantifying how nutrient imbalances (e.g., N/P stoichiometry) and environmental changes alter mycorrhizal C allocation;

-Elucidating mechanisms of hyphal-driven C competition or facilitation among plant species;

-Advancing methodologies to trace and quantify mycorrhizal hyphal C fluxes and scale findings across forest types and climatic gradients;

-Modeling mycorrhizal effects on long-term C stabilization across biomes.

Submissions can be made across various article types including original research articles, reviews, methods articles, data articles, and perspectives, spanning laboratory experiments, field studies, theoretical analyses, and ecological modelling.

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Mycorrhizal Networks: Unraveling Their Role in Forest Carbon Sequestration