Plants colonized by AM fungi regulate further root colonization by AM fungi through altered root exudation

The effect of root exudates from non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants colonized by one of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Gigaspora rosea Nicolson & Schenck, Glomus intraradices Smith & Schenck, or Glomus mosseae (Nicolson & Gerdemann) Gerd. & Trappe) on hyphal growth of Gi. rosea and G. intraradices in axenic culture and on root colonization by G. mosseae in soil was investigated. Root exudates from non-mycorrhizal cucumber plants clearly stimulated hyphal growth, whereas root exudates from all mycorrhizal cucumber plants tested showed no stimulation of the hyphal growth of Gi. rosea and only a slight stimulation of the hyphal growth of G. intraradices. Moreover, root exudates from all mycorrhizal cucumber plants inhibited root colonization by G. mosseae compared with the water-treated controls. These results suggest that plants colonized by AM fungi regulate further mycorrhization via their root exudates.