Study
A meta-analysis of context-dependency in plant response to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi
Hoeksema, J. D.; Chaudhary, V. B.; Gehring, C. A.; Johnson, N. C.; Karst, J.; Koide, R. T.; Pringle, A.; Zabinski, C.; Bever, J. D.; Moore, J. C.; Wilson, G. W. T.; Klironomos, J. N.; Umbanhowar, J.
Ecology Letters, 2010
Published experiments in which plants were grown with and without mycorrhizal fungi were pooled, and the size and direction of the plant response were modelled against plant functional group, fungal group, nitrogen and phosphorus supply and experimental conditions.
- Studied in
- Glomeromycota, Basidiomycota, Tracheophyta
- Sample size
- inoculation experiments pooled across the literature
The response of a plant to being colonised ranged from strongly positive to negative, and the variation was systematic rather than noise: it depended on which plant, which fungus, and above all on nutrient supply. Plants with coarse root systems benefited most; well-fertilised plants often did not benefit at all.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
Mycorrhizal outcomes are strongly context-dependent, and characterising the symbiosis as uniformly mutualistic is not supported by the experimental record.
How NatureHQ reads it
The single most useful corrective in this area. "Mycorrhizas help plants" is not wrong so much as under-specified: on this evidence the relationship runs the full range from a large benefit to a net cost, and where it lands is predictable from conditions. A fungus taking sugar from a plant that already has plenty of phosphorus is charging for a service the plant does not need. Mutualism here is an outcome, not an identity.
- Pooled experiments are dominated by short-term pot studies with young plants.
- Under-represents ectomycorrhizal trees, which are hard to grow experimentally.
- Measures plant biomass response, which is not the same as fitness in the field.
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Published by: Wiley journalsPublished in a Wiley journal.
doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01430.x
This reference was resolved automatically against Crossref on 2026-08-30.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-08-30.