In Vitro Culture Systems to Study the Functions of Common Mycorrhizal Network in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbioses.

In vitro culture systems provide a controlled platform for studying common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), overcoming the difficulties of pot- or field-based approaches. These systems make it possible to study with precision plant-to-plant communication through the exchange of nutrients and signaling compounds. CMNs also open up new avenues for exploring the hyphobiome by shedding light on the microbial communities living on the surface of the hyphae connecting plants. Here, we present standardized, compartmented systems establishing contaminant-free CMNs for detailed studies of plant-plant communication via the AMF hyphosphere.