Developmental cross talking in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis: signals and communication genes

Development of ectomycorrhizas involves multiple genes that are implicated in a complex series of interdependent, sequential steps. Current research i nto ectomycorrhiza development and functioning is aimed at understanding th is plant-microbe interaction in a framework of the developmental and physio logical processes that underlie colonization and morphogenesis. After a bri ef introduction to the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, the present article highl ights recent work on the early signal exchange taking place between symbion ts, and sketches the way functional genomics is altering our thinking about changes in gene expression during the early steps of the ectomycorrhiza de velopment. (C) New Phytologist (2001) 151. 145-154.