Summary
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal structures, such as spores, vesicles, extra- and intra-radical hyphae, are home to diverse communities of prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) taxa and can have significant impact on the movement and behavior of those microbes within the soil. The ability to disperse via fungal hyphae, known as the fungal highway effect, was first observed in ectomycorrhiza and later in other fungal groups. This effect may benefit soil prokaryotes allowing them to explore new microhabitats in soil, offering advantages such as improved nutrient access, enhanced dispersal and colonization. Although the term “fungal highways” is well established, there still are only few studies that address the partner interactions and movement of microorganisms through the hyphal networks
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