From Plant Nursery to Field: Persistence of Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Balancing Effects on Growth-Defence Tradeoffs Mediated by Rootstock

The plant domestication process led to crops with strongly modified growth-defense tradeoff features, and that were much more pampered in terms of nutrition, irrigation defense measures, showing less ability trigger adaptation strategies respect their wild relatives. It is worth noting plants are not alone, they share environment a myriad microbes supporting them many relevant functions. We have already demonstrated an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculum (formed by two AMF species, i.e., Rhizophagus irregularis Funneliformis mosseae) able balance growth responses grapevine rootstocks opposite features. In the present study, we evaluated persistence AMF-mediated balancing effects under field conditions, confirming positive impact symbiosis vineyards. detail, some genes related nitrogen (N) uptake metabolism specifically modulated presence symbionts, while others not. Additionally, photosynthetic performances stilbenes accumulation influenced presence. Overall, our results open new questions about timing inoculation obtain stable functional symbiosis, suggesting early can facilitate interaction between roots these beneficial microorganisms.