Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (3): 515-535.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2025.0311  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2025.0311

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Ecological functions and community regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

WANG Hai-Lang1,2, FU Wei1, WU Song-Lin1,2, CHEN Bao-Dong1,2,*()()   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2025-08-24 Accepted:2025-11-01 Online:2026-03-20 Published:2026-04-22
  • Contact: CHEN Bao-Dong
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFF1304101);National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFE0114000);National Natural Science Foundation of China(42177277);National Natural Science Foundation of China(42307382)

Abstract:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), widely distributed in terrestrial ecosystems, form symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants. Their extraradical hyphal networks mediate plant-soil interactions, playing indispensable roles in enhancing ecosystem productivity, sustaining biodiversity, and maintaining soil health. While the roles of AMF in enhancing plant nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance are well documented, comprehensive assessments of their ecosystem-scale functions remain scarce. More importantly, methodologies for the targeted manipulation of AMF communities and their ecological functions are still underdeveloped. This review systematically summarizes the ecological functions of AMF from four aspects: ecosystem productivity, biodiversity-ecosystem stability relationships, biogeochemical cycling, and soil health. To address current technical bottlenecks in AMF community regulation, we propose an ecological regulation framework for the application of AMF in improvement of ecosystem functions, including the activation of indigenous fungal consortia, the application of exogenous inoculants, and optimizing context-specific management practices. This framework refines a robust, AMF-centered soil ecological regulation paradigm to facilitate the development of mycorrhizal technologies. Future studies should prioritize the multidimensional interactions among AMF, host plants, and environmental factors, to address the multiple challenges associated with the targeted regulation of AMF communities. This includes advancing microbial regulation strategies, developing multifunctional consortia, and optimizing long-term field management practices. Ultimately, these efforts aim to promote the effective application of mycorrhizal technologies in ecological restoration and sustainable agriculture.

Key words: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ecological function, mycorrhizal technology, community regulation