Cross-kingdom RNA interference promotes arbuscular mycorrhiza development
Cross-kingdom RNA interference is an emerging concept in plant-pathogen interactions. Here we provide evidence that cross-kingdom RNA interference also occurs in a beneficial plant symbiosis called arbuscular mycorrhiza. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis transfers small RNAs into plant cells, promoting the colonization of host roots. This finding establishes inter-organismal RNA communication as a new regulatory mechanism of this ancient and widespread symbiosis.
Authors
- Iván F. Acosta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7080-3384)
- An-Po Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3337-7178)
- Bernhard Lederer
- Florian Dunker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1586-412X)
- Annika Usländer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7283-4061)
- Manisha V. Haag
- Jin Yan Khoo
- Caroline Gutjahr
- Arne Weiberg
Institutions
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (DE)
- Hamburg Institut (Germany) (DE)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
- Hamburg University of Technology (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Plants
- Published
- 2026-03-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02247-2
- Primary Topic
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München