Summary
This is the third edition of the seminal textbook by Sally Smith and David Read, widely regarded as the definitive reference work on mycorrhizal symbiosis. It provides a comprehensive synthesis of the biology, ecology, and physiology of all major mycorrhizal types — including arbuscular, ectomycorrhizal, ericoid, and orchid mycorrhizas — drawing on decades of accumulated research. The volume covers nutrient transfer mechanisms, the diversity of fungal and plant partners, and the ecological and agronomic significance of these associations across natural and managed systems.
UK applicability
The principles reviewed are directly applicable to UK farming and land management contexts, particularly regarding the role of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi in nutrient cycling, soil health, and plant establishment in both agricultural and woodland systems. UK agri-environment policy and reduced-input farming approaches increasingly recognise mycorrhizal function as central to sustainable soil management.
Key measures
Phosphorus and nitrogen uptake; hyphal network extent; symbiotic functional categories; host plant range; fungal diversity and taxonomy
Outcomes reported
This reference text comprehensively reviews the biology, diversity, and functional ecology of mycorrhizal associations, covering nutrient exchange mechanisms, plant and fungal diversity, and ecological significance across terrestrial ecosystems.
Topic tags
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