Friendly fungi hijack plant regulator to promote symbiosis

Study uncovers mechanism that helps fungi to colonize plant roots

Plants are constantly on guard. Their roots are equipped with molecular alarm systems that detect invading microbes and trigger immune responses. Yet beneficial soil fungi routinely enter living root cells and establish close partnerships essential for plant nutrition. Scientists have now discovered that these fungi send small RNAs into the plant that may quietly switch off selected defence systems from within.

Quelle: IDW Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

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