The transportome of mycorrhizal systems
Résumé
Nutrient uptake from soil and exchanges between fungal and plant partners forming mycorrhizal symbioses present a mean feature among the beneficial effects of these mutualistic relationships. Improved plant mineral nutrition through the fungal partner was first described a long time ago; in return, the plant delivers carbon substrates to the fungal partner. The first transport systems involved in plant-microorganism interactions in plants and fungi were also identified years ago. Within this chapter, recent knowledge concerning mycorrhizal nutrient exchanges and the involved molecular players in membrane transport of the ecto- and endomycorrhizal partners will be presented. First, transport of sugars from plants towards mycorrhizal fungi is summarized. Then, uptake and exchange of main nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate, sulfate, potassium, and water by the symbiotic partners will be reviewed.