Functional genomics and signaling events in mycorrhizal symbiosis

The symbiotic association between plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is an evolutionary conserved association that resulted from co-evolutionary events where both partners benefit from each other. Different plant genes, hormones, and miRNAs regulate this symbiotic association at different levels. Of those, the most important signaling molecules that play critical roles in symbiotic association are plant-derived strigolactones and fungal-derived lipochito-oligosaccharides. These molecules regulate the symbiotic association at the initial stage of symbiosis. Subsequent signaling events of these two molecules activate downstream signaling cascades to develop a proper symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi.