Cross-kingdom nutrient exchange in the plant–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus–bacterium continuum

The association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affects plant performance and ecosystem functioning. Recent studies have identified AMF-associated bacteria as cooperative partners that participate in AMF–plant symbiosis: specific endobacteria live inside AMF, and hyphospheric bacteria colonize the soil that surrounds the extraradical hyphae. In this Review, we describe the concept of a plant–AMF–bacterium continuum, summarize current advances and provide perspectives on soil microbiology. First, we review the top-down carbon flow and the bottom-up mineral flow (especially phosphorus and nitrogen) in this continuum, as well as how AMF–bacteria interactions influence the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients (for example, carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen). Second, we discuss how AMF interact with hyphospheric bacteria or endobacteria to regulate nutrient exchange between plants and AMF, and the possible molecular mechanisms that underpin this continuum. Finally, we explore future prospects for studies on the hyphosphere to facilitate the utilization of AMF and hyphospheric bacteria in sustainable agriculture. Most plants form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which themselves harbour endobacteria and hyphospheric bacteria. In this Review, Duan et al. explore how nutrients are transferred between the partners in this plant–fungus–bacterium continuum.