Citation
Phylogenetic distribution and evolution of mycorrhizas in land plants
TL;DR
Mycorrhizal fungi colonize 90% of plant species
This research established that mycorrhizal fungi colonize 90% of plant species, demonstrating that the fungal partnership is not an exception but the norm in plant biology.
The study traced the evolutionary history of mycorrhizal relationships, showing that this symbiosis has been refined over hundreds of millions of years - providing context for why plants invest 15-20% of photosynthetic output in feeding fungal partners.
Key Findings from Wang & Qiu (2006)
- Mycorrhizal fungi colonize 90% of plant species
- Partnership is evolutionarily ancient
- Plants invest 15-20% of photosynthetic output in fungal partners
- Fungi extend effective root system 10-100x