Untapped potential of mycorrhizal network-mediated plant-to-plant communication

Abstract

Plants are often thought of as passive organisms, yet they can detect attacks and mount sophisticated defence responses against microbes and pests. These responses are not limited to the point of damage: warning signals can spread through the plant and, in some cases, may even reach neighbouring plants. One possible route for this communication is through common mycorrhizal networks—underground fungal connections linking the roots of different plants. Emerging evidence suggests these hidden networks may help transmit stress signals and prime nearby plants for stronger defence. Understanding how mycorrhizal network-mediated signalling works could reshape how we think about plant communities and offer new strategies for developing more resilient, sustainable crop and forestry systems.