Summary
This study investigates the pathway by which ergothioneine, an antioxidant synthesised by soil-dwelling fungi, is taken up by crop plants via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and explores implications for the nutritional quality of food in relation to soil health. The findings suggest that AMF colonisation is a key mediator of ergothioneine transfer from soil to plant, linking agricultural soil management practices to the micronutrient density of food. The paper contributes to a growing body of evidence connecting soil biological health with human dietary intake of protective compounds.
UK applicability
While the study's geographic focus is not confirmed as UK-specific, the findings are broadly applicable to UK arable and horticultural systems where AMF populations are influenced by tillage, fungicide use, and organic matter management; the results have potential relevance for UK agri-environment schemes and regenerative farming policy discussions.
Key measures
Ergothioneine concentration in plant tissues (µg/g or similar); AMF colonisation rates; soil ergothioneine levels; comparison across soil health treatments or mycorrhizal inoculation conditions
Outcomes reported
The study examined the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in facilitating plant uptake of ergothioneine, a dietary antioxidant produced by soil fungi, and assessed whether soil health conditions influence ergothioneine concentrations in edible plant tissues.
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