Signaling at the Root Surface: The Role of Cutin Monomers in Mycorrhization

Most vascular plants interact with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and are thereby provided significant advantages in nutrient acquisition, especially phosphate. The widespread retention of this symbiosis in vascular plants is testament to its importance and ancient origins. This highlight focuses on the reports of two of the first genes identified through forward genetic screens for AMF symbiotic mutants: Required for Abuscular Mycorrhization 1 (RAM1) and RAM2, which respectively encode a GRAS transcription factor and a glycerol-3-phosphate acyl-transferase (GPAT) that are required for the formation of fungal entry structures (hyphopodia) on the root surface.