🛒 Imagine delving into the intricate "soil marketplace" of plant ecosystems, where a captivating interplay of symbiotic relationships takes center stage.
🌾 Envision plants as ingenious merchants offering an array of commodities, including carbohydrates generated through the enchanting process of photosynthesis.
🦠 Beneficial bacteria function as adept traders, specializing in both direct and indirect advantages for plants, including nutrient conversion and the release of essential hormones & secondary metabolites – highly valued assets crucial for robust growth.
🍄 Much like seasoned brokers, mycorrhizal fungi extend their expansive network of hyphae deep into the soil, diligently gathering vital nutrients like phosphorus, and seamlessly delivering these precious resources to the plants.
🧪 Among these fungi, arbuscular mycorrhiza species display remarkable proficiency as adept chemical processors, skilfully hydrolyzing organic Phosphorus and thereby enhancing the intricate turnover of soil organic P.
🔀 Significantly, a multitude of beneficial bacteria align their interests, engaging with the mycelium to efficiently mobilize invaluable nutrient resources.
🌍 In this vibrant and bustling soil marketplace, these traders reap mutual benefits, fostering their prosperity and contributing to the overall well-being of the flourishing community.
Image: relations of soil nutrients, bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi (credits: Wipf et. al. 2019l DOI: 10.1111/nph.15775)