How China's Mycorrhizal Research is Shaping Our Green Future
In the hidden world beneath our feet, ancient alliances between fungi and roots hold the key to solving some of humanity's most pressing environmental challenges.
Beneath the surface of China's forests, grasslands, and farmlands lies a vast biological network more intricate than any human creation.
This underground internet connects plants through fungal filaments, allowing them to communicate, share resources, and strengthen their defenses. These symbiotic associations, known as mycorrhizas, form between soil fungi and plant roots, creating one of the most widespread and ancient partnerships on Earth.
In China, mycorrhizal research has blossomed into a dynamic scientific field, with studies skyrocketing from just a handful of papers decades ago to thousands of publications today. Chinese scientists are now pioneering innovative applications of this ancient symbiosis—from enhancing crop resilience to rebuilding entire forests. This research isn't just academic; it's shaping sustainable solutions for agriculture, forestry, and ecosystem restoration across the nation and beyond.
Mycorrhizas, literally meaning "fungus-roots," are symbiotic structures formed between soil fungi and the roots of approximately 90% of terrestrial plants. In these remarkable partnerships, plants provide carbon and lipids to their fungal partners, while the fungi dramatically expand the root system's reach, enabling improved uptake of water and essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus 1 .
These associations represent a perfect biological exchange—a delicate balance of give-and-take that has evolved over millions of years. The fungi act as microscopic root extensions, sometimes increasing the effective absorptive surface area of roots by up to a hundred times.
China's mycorrhizal diversity reflects its rich plant ecosystems. Researchers have documented approximately 147 arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species and 500 ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal species based on morphological characteristics alone 1 . Molecular techniques have revealed even greater diversity, with an average of 32-38 AM fungal types detected in individual root samples from various ecosystems 1 .
| Mycorrhizal Type | Key Features | Host Plants | Prevalence in China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) | Intracellular structures; ancient association | ~80% of plant species including crops, grasses | 90.93% of obligatorily mycorrhizal medicinal plants 3 |
| Ectomycorrhiza (EM) | Forms mantle around roots; extracellular | ~2% of plant species including pines, oaks | ~500 species documented 1 |
| Orchid Mycorrhiza | Essential for orchid seed germination | Orchid family | Dozens of species documented 9 |
| Ericoid Mycorrhiza | Fine root associations | Heath family plants | Present but less studied |
Mycorrhizal research in China has followed a remarkable trajectory over the past six decades. What began as primarily taxonomic studies in the 1950s-1970s has expanded into an integrated field encompassing ecology, molecular biology, and applied biotechnology 9 .
The real turning point came after 2000, when research publications began increasing dramatically. A comprehensive analysis revealed that by December 2017, Chinese scientists had published 1,893 Science Citation Index (SCI) papers and 2,272 papers in Chinese journals since 1980—with the vast majority appearing in the new millennium 1 .
This research explosion reflects both increased scientific capacity and growing recognition of mycorrhizae's critical roles in ecosystem health. As one researcher noted, "I am honoured to address as the seventh president of the Mycological Society of China. Mycorrhizal research has a long history in China, including taxonomy, diversity, ecology, molecular biology, and application" 1 .
Primarily taxonomic studies of mycorrhizal fungi
Gradual expansion into ecological and applied research
Exponential growth in publications and research scope
1,893 SCI papers and 2,272 Chinese journal papers published
One groundbreaking 2025 study investigated how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could help wheat varieties with differing innate phosphorus efficiencies adapt to low-phosphorus stress 2 . The researchers designed a controlled experiment comparing two wheat cultivars: SW14 (phosphorus-inefficient) and SW2 (phosphorus-efficient) under low-phosphorus conditions with and without AMF inoculation.
| Growth Parameter | SW14 (P-Inefficient) +AMF | SW14 (P-Inefficient) -AMF | SW2 (P-Efficient) +AMF | SW2 (P-Efficient) -AMF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Height | Significant increase | Lower baseline | Minor improvement | Already high |
| Overall Biomass | Significantly enhanced | Reduced | Slight improvement | Already high |
| Root Surface Area | Expanded | Limited | Minimal change | Already adequate |
| Phosphorus Content | 98.50% higher than high-P uninoculated | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Key Genes Regulated | 2,500 DEGs | Not analyzed | Fewer DEGs | Not analyzed |
Another 2025 study explored AMF's potential to enhance soybean growth under saline-alkaline stress—a growing problem affecting 99.133 million hectares of land in China 4 . Researchers inoculated a salt-sensitive soybean cultivar with a mixture of three AMF species under different phosphorus levels.
| Parameter Measured | +AMF (Low Phosphorus) | -AMF (Low Phosphorus) | -AMF (High Phosphorus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Available Phosphorus | Increased by 23.11% | Baseline | Similar to +AMF low P |
| Leaf Phosphorus Content | 4.72 mg·gâ»Â¹ | Significantly lower | 2.38 mg·gâ»Â¹ |
| Nitrogen-Potassium Accumulation | Significantly increased | Reduced | Moderate |
| Phosphorus Transport to Stems | 37.27% efficient transfer | Less efficient | Less efficient |
| Research Tool | Function/Application | Research Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular DNA Analysis | Identify fungal species in roots beyond spore morphology | Revealed 66 EM taxa in Quercus liaotungensis roots vs. 500 known EM species in China 1 |
| High-Throughput Sequencing | Comprehensive analysis of fungal communities in soil and roots | Detected average 37.8 AM fungi per woody plant species in subtropical forest 1 |
| Trap Cultures | Cultivate AM fungi from field soils using host plants | Expanded known AM fungal species in China to 104 species from 9 genera |
| Quantitative PCR (qPCR) | Precisely measure abundance of specific fungal taxa | Enabled shift from qualitative to quantitative community analysis |
| Stable Isotope Probing | Track nutrient flow between plants and fungi | Confirmed reciprocal carbon-nutrient exchange 5 |
One of the most promising developments from Chinese research is the innovative "Plant-Mycorrhiza Synergy" framework for forest restoration. This approach, developed by an international team led by the South China Botanical Garden, moves beyond traditional aboveground-focused restoration to explicitly incorporate belowground fungal networks 7 .
Drive formation of Mineral-Associated Organic Matter (MAOM) in deeper soil layers
Boost Particulate Organic Matter (POM) in upper soil layers
This dual mechanism significantly increases total carbon storage while enhancing nutrient retention, drought resilience, and biodiversity.
In practical applications, this approach has demonstrated remarkable success. In a 60-year tropical coastal forest restoration project, mixed forests established using plant-mycorrhiza synergy principles showed approximately 40% higher soil carbon storage compared to monoculture plantations, along with significant recovery of local biodiversity 7 .
Chinese researchers have emphasized that mycorrhizal functioning differs across regions, advocating for more region-specific hypotheses and studies, particularly for subtropical China 8 . This region presents unique opportunities with its phosphorus-impoverished soils, high biodiversity, and rapidly changing environments.
China's journey in mycorrhizal research demonstrates how exploring nature's hidden partnerships can yield powerful solutions to contemporary challenges.
From the molecular dialogue between fungi and plant roots to landscape-scale forest restoration, this research is transforming our understanding of the natural world and our place in it.
As Chinese scientists continue to decode the complexities of these ancient alliances, they're not just advancing scientific knowledge—they're pioneering practical approaches to build more resilient agriculture, restore degraded ecosystems, and combat climate change. The underground internet of mycorrhizal networks, once overlooked, is now recognized as an indispensable partner in building a sustainable future.
The message from decades of research is clear: by nurturing these hidden alliances, we can help heal our planet from the ground up.