A single gene and a unique layer of regulation opens the door for novel plant-fungi interactions

Soil fungi known as ectomycorrhizae (ECM) can penetrate plant roots and provide water and nutrients to host plants in exchange for sugar. This symbiotic relationship benefits the plant, increasing its growth. To benefit from these fungi while protecting themselves from harmful ones such as pathogens, plants have evolved a complex layer of regulation that determines which fungi can inhabit their root system.