A journey through signaling in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses 2006

Summary Recent years have seen fascinating contributions to our understanding of the molecular dialogue between fungi and plants entering into arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses. Attention has shifted from descriptions of physiological and cellular events to molecular genetics and modern chemical diagnostics. Genes, signal transduction pathways and the chemical structures of components relevant to the symbiosis have been defined. This review examines our current knowledge of signals and mechanisms involved in the establishment of AM symbioses. Contents Summary 35 I. Introduction 35 II. Presymbiotic dialogue – recognition and anticipation 36 III. Early symbiotic phase – contact and penetration 39 IV. Mature symbiotic phase – haustoria and mineral nutrition 41 V. Concluding remarks 43 Acknowledgements 43 References 43