The parasitic-neutral-mutual continuum of plant-fungal interactions

Abstract

Interactions of plants with fungi are of imminent importance to crop production and thus for human nutrition. However, interactions range from pathogenic fungi, e.g. cereal rusts, to beneficial interactions with plant growth promotion through soil, endophytic or mycorrhizal fungi. Thus, mutually beneficial, neutral or parasitic/pathogenic interactions can be distinguished. In order to identify more general mechanisms on the fungal side coping with environmental and plant response associated stress, modern technologies are available including the -omics technologies. In addition to that, the comparison of the different interactions may be compared, both on a more general level, but also at very small scale to identify the different parameters guiding interchange of nutrients and signals. This will allow for a holistic view on plant health necessary to establish eco-friendly technologies also in crop protection and plant nutrition.