PubMed · 2026-07-10
Mycorrhizal fungi in leek roots can mobilize phosphorus from rock phosphate, an abundant but hard-to-use mineral fertilizer, by working alongside specific soil bacteria. This study shows the fungal-bacterial partnership drives real gains in plant growth and phosphorus uptake, suggesting a biological route to cutting synthetic fertilizer use in food production.
Mycorrhizal fungus inoculation significantly increased total leek biomass (p < 0.001), confirming the growth benefit of the symbiosis independent of fertilizer type
Rock phosphate amendment boosted fungal structures inside roots (p = 0.03) and raised shoot phosphorus content (p = 0.013) and photosynthetic activity (p < 0.0001)
Rock phosphate significantly shifted bacterial communities living on fungal threads (p = 0.01), with Planctomycetota and Bacillota forming the core bacteriome on fungal hyphae
