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Nature 435, 750-751 (9 June 2005) | doi:10.1038/435750a; Published online 8 June 2005

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Plant–fungal associations:  Cue for the branching connection

Martin Parniske1

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Plant roots release potent molecules that activate symbiotic fungi and initiate a harmonious relationship. It turns out that the same compounds are detected by parasitic weeds for less benign purposes.

Of all the fungi, it is a group known as the Glomeromycota that arguably has the greatest claim to public notice. The reason is that its members form symbiotic associations known as arbuscular mycorrhiza with plant roots, and without this symbiosis our planet's flora would have a very different constitution.

  1. Martin Parniske is at the Genetics Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Maria-Ward-Strasse 1a, 80638 Munich, Germany.
    Email: parniske@lmu.de

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