Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (7): 1038-1052.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2024.0196  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2024.0196

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Research progress on root exudates and rhizosphere effects of tree species associated with different mycorrhizal types

LIANG Tian-Hao1,2,3, XIONG De-Cheng1,2,3, LIU Yuan-Hao1,2,3, DU Xu-Long1,2,3, YANG Zhi-Jie1,2,3, HUANG Jin-Xue1,*()   

  1. 1Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
    2School of Geographical Science, School of Carbon Neutrality and Future Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
    3Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanming, Fujian 365002, China
  • Received:2024-06-12 Accepted:2024-12-10 Online:2025-07-20 Published:2025-05-14
  • Contact: HUANG Jin-Xue
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(32192433);National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071743);Public Welfare Projects of Science and Technology Department of Fujian Province(2024R1002006)

Abstract:

Changes in belowground ecological processes in the context of global change have become one of the hot issues of concern in the field of ecology. Mycorrhiza are symbiotic relationships between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, widely distributed in terrestrial ecosystems. As two major types of mycorrhizal fungi related to trees, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi exhibit significant differences in morphology and function. Root exudates, as an important medium for exchange of matter, energy, and information between plants and soil, play a crucial role in soil carbon dynamics. The root exudates of tree species associated with different mycorrhizal types can actively respond to environmental changes by continuously adjusting their quantity and chemical composition, and influence the belowground carbon dynamics and cycling processes of forest ecosystems. Currently, the composition and function of root exudates from different types of mycorrhizal fungi, as well as the variation and impact on plant and soil, remain unclear. Therefore, this article combines current frontiers in the field both domestically and internationally, and summarizes the root exudate characteristics, influencing mechanisms, and rhizosphere effects of tree species associated with different mycorrhizal types. This review is expected to provide references for further research on the response and adaptation mechanism of root systems and exudates to global changes. In addition, it also proposes directions for future research on root exudates among different types of mycorrhizal fungi that require further investigation: (1) strengthening systematic research on root exudates among different types of mycorrhizal fungi; (2) studying the influence mechanism of mycorrhizal type on root exudates in combination with other environmental factors; (3) using more precise technological means to comprehensively understand the changes in root exudate characteristics among different types of mycorrhizal fungi; (4) deeply revealing the influencing mechanism of root exudates among different types of mycorrhizal fungi from the perspective of plant physiology and metabolism; (5) conducting long-term dynamic monitoring and simulation experiments on different types of mycorrhizal fungi to predict their impact on soil ecological processes.

Key words: root exudates, arbuscular mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza, below-ground carbon allocation, impact mechanism, rhizosphere effect