Background and Aims

Mutualistic root symbioses, particularly those involving mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are pivotal to ecosystem productivity and stability. Plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) and climate serve as primary regulators of these symbiotic interactions, determining their establishment, maintenance, and diversity. PSFs, encompassing the complex interactions between plants and soil biota, modulate nutrient uptake and ultimately influence plant growth and development. Climate not only shapes the abundance, composition and performance of soil biota, but also directly impacts the distribution and response of plant symbioses to environmental shifts including rising temperatures and modified precipitation patterns.

Results

This review compiles recent advancements in the ecology and diversity of mycorrhizal and nitrogen-fixing associations, emphasizing the interaction between soil biota and climate, and their implications for ecosystem functions in the context of climate change. It also identifies key gaps in our understanding, such as the molecular mechanisms at play, the genetic variability involved, and the impact of global environmental changes on symbiotic networks.

Conclusion

Addressing these questions is essential for a more profound comprehension of the complex plant-soil dynamics that sculpt terrestrial ecosystems.