Speaker

Vasalis Kokkoris (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast, continuous cytoplasmic networks that connect soil with plant roots and sustain one of Earth’s most widespread symbioses. Their coenocytic organization allows resources, organelles, nuclei, and signals to move through centimeter- to meter-scale mycelia without cellular boundaries, raising fundamental questions about coordination across scales. Within hyphae, AM fungi show dynamic nuclear distributions, spatially organized lipid accumulation, and sustained cytoplasmic streaming that together support rapid physiological responses. Across networks, mycelial expansion occurs through coordinated waves of tip growth and mycelial densification linking exploratory foraging with the stabilization of long-distance transport capacity. These coupled dynamics allow AM fungi to flexibly allocate carbon and nutrients while maintaining connectivity with host roots. Yet, despite their ecological importance, the AM fungal cell remains poorly understood. Resolving how internal cellular organization integrates with network growth is essential for a mechanistic understanding of AM fungal function, efficiency, and resilience.