Ammonia: a candidate for nitrogen transfer at the mycorrhizal interface

Abstract

In mycorrhizal associations, the fungal partner assists its plant host with nitrogen and phosphorus uptake while obtaining photosynthetically fixed carbon. Recent studies in mycorrhiza have highlighted the potential for direct transfer of ammonia from fungal to plant cells. This presents a new perspective on nitrogen transfer at the mycorrhizal interface, which is discussed here in light of recent progress made in characterizing a large array of membrane proteins that could fulfil the function of transporting ammonia.