Scientific breakthroughs reveal scale and mechanics of fungal networks

Recent scientific breakthroughs have provided new insights into the vast and complex subterranean networks of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that support approximately 70 per cent of plant species globally.

A study published in Science by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks has mapped an estimated 110 quadrillion kilometres of fungal hyphae within Earth’s topsoils. This massive network was estimated using data from over 16,000 global soil cores combined with machine-learning models.

Complementing this mapping, researchers at National Taiwan University (NTU) have identified the molecular mechanisms governing these symbiotic relationships. Published in Nature Communications, the NTU study reveals that the transcription factor IDD7 acts as a master regulator in rice, coordinating hormonal signals and phosphate responses to facilitate nutrient exchange between plants and fungi. This discovery provides a potential genetic roadmap for enhancing nutrient-use efficiency and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers in agriculture.