Using invasion theory to predict the fate of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculants

摘要

The agricultural use of commercial biofertilizers containing arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, obligate symbionts that help plants take up nutrients, has resulted in the global introduction of AM fungi to non-native environments. Despite their growing use and evidence for endemism among AM fungi, the risk of AM fungi becoming invasive through biofertilizer application has not been studied in the context of general invasion theory. Understanding their dispersal by multiple vectors and in different environments is key to understanding how quickly they could spread. In this review, we consider the risk of invasion by commercial AM fungi in terms of a theoretical framework. We propose traits that make an isolate good for use as a commercial product, such competitiveness and high sporulation rate, may also increase invasiveness.