Abstract

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, the partnership between Glomeromycotina fungi and most plant species, is a cornerstone of nearly every terrestrial ecosystem across all continents. AM symbiosis revolves around nutrient exchange, with AM fungi providing soil mineral nutrients to plants and receiving organic carbon in return. While much has been elucidated about these nutrient transfers at the whole organism scale, little is known about their coordination at the actual sites of nutrient exchange: the intracellular plant-fungal ‘arbuscules’. Investigating arbuscule-scale processes has proven challenging due to their spatial heterogeneity, temporal dynamism, and concealed location within plant root cells underground. In this talk I will present the development of a custom, non-invasive, high- resolution imaging system for tracking arbuscule dynamics over extended time periods. I will share the insights it has given us into the coordination and regulation of phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon transfer during the interaction between rice and AM fungi, and the implications of this for our understanding of AM symbiosis.

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