What are mycorrhizae, and why were scientists surprised to find them in snow-bed alpine communities?

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots. They are crucial because they enhance nutrient uptake for plants, especially in nutrient-poor environments. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), the most common type, involves fungi of the order Glomerales. While traditionally thought to be hindered by harsh conditions, recent research shows they thrive even in extreme alpine environments, challenging previous assumptions.

What levels of mycorrhizal infection intensity and root length colonization (RLC) were observed in the studied alpine plants?

The intensity of mycorrhizal infection in the studied plants, with the exception of Carex oreophilla, was found to be no less than 40%. The calculated percentage of root length colonization (RLC) equaled or exceeded 80%. This suggests that these symbiotic relationships are highly developed and essential for the plants' survival and nutrient uptake in these challenging environments.

Why is the discovery of well-developed mycorrhizae in alpine plants important in the context of climate change and ecosystem conservation?

These findings highlight the adaptability of plants and fungi in extreme conditions. The presence of well-developed mycorrhizae indicates they are crucial for plant survival and ecosystem function in snow-bed alpine communities. Given climate change's impact on snow cover and growing seasons, understanding these interactions is vital for predicting ecosystem responses and creating conservation strategies. Further study could look at the specific fungal species involved and their particular contributions.

Did researchers find arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) in plant families not typically associated with these symbiotic relationships, and what does this suggest about plant adaptation?

Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) were observed even in plant families traditionally considered non-mycorrhizal, such as Carex oreophylla (Cyperaceae) and Minuartia aizoides (Caryophyllaceae). This indicates that under environmental pressures, plants can adapt and form these symbiotic relationships regardless of their family's typical association with mycorrhizae, suggesting a broader adaptive capacity than previously understood. This flexibility could be key to survival in rapidly changing environments.

Surreal illustration of fungal networks beneath snow-covered alpine plants.

Snow Secrets: The Hidden World of Alpine Plant Mycorrhiza

Q: Which plant species were examined in the Aragats Massif study, and what was the key finding regarding mycorrhizal presence?

The study on the Aragats Massif, located at 3300 meters, examined the mycorrhizal infection intensity in ten plant species common to snow-bed communities. Researchers found that all ten species, including Campanula tridentata, Carex oreophylla, Carum caucasicum, Chamaesciadium acaule, Gagea pusilla, Minuartia aizoides, Poa alpina, Ranunculus dissectus, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Taraxacum stevenii, exhibited arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). This discovery challenges the assumption that such relationships are limited in harsh environments.

Kai Mendoza in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how alpine plants thrive under extreme conditions with the help of symbiotic fungal networks."

Imagine a world blanketed in snow for nine months of the year, where the growing season is a fleeting two months. This is the reality for snow-bed alpine communities in the Lesser Caucasus, a region characterized by extreme conditions. For years, scientists believed that such harsh environments would hinder the development of mycorrhizae, the symbiotic relationships between fungi and plant roots. However, recent research is turning that assumption on its head, revealing a vibrant and essential network beneath the snow.

Mycorrhizae are widespread, with 85-90% of vascular plants forming these relationships. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), a symbiosis with fungi of the order Glomerales, is the most common type. These relationships are crucial because they enhance nutrient uptake for plants, especially in nutrient-poor environments. Traditionally, it was thought that extreme conditions like high salinity, low temperatures, and short growing seasons would decrease mycorrhization. Plants like those in the families Chenopodiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Cyperaceae, often found in harsh environments, were considered non-mycorrhizal or facultative-mycorrhizal.

But the story in the high alpine snowbeds is proving to be different. A study focused on the Aragats Massif in Armenia, a region known for its extensive snow cover and short growing season, challenges these conventional beliefs. Researchers examined the mycorrhizal infection intensity in ten plant species, revealing that even under these extreme conditions, plants are developing well-formed arbuscular mycorrhizae.

The Aragats Massif Discovery: Challenging Old Assumptions

Surreal illustration of fungal networks beneath snow-covered alpine plants.

The study on the Aragats Massif, at an altitude of 3300 meters, provided some surprising results. The research team, led by N. G. Lavrenov and V. G. Onipchenko, investigated whether the dominant plant species in snow-bed alpine communities exhibited well-developed mycorrhizae, despite the harsh conditions. They hypothesized that even plants typically not associated with mycorrhizae could form these symbiotic relationships under such environmental pressures. Their findings were quite revealing, challenging long-held assumptions about plant-fungi interactions in extreme environments.

Researchers collected root samples from ten plant species common to the snow-bed communities. These included Campanula tridentata, Carex oreophylla, Carum caucasicum, Chamaesciadium acaule, Gagea pusilla, Minuartia aizoides, Poa alpina, Ranunculus dissectus, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Taraxacum stevenii. What they found was that all ten species exhibited arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). Even more surprising, species from families typically considered non-mycorrhizal, such as Carex oreophylla (Cyperaceae) and Minuartia aizoides (Caryophyllaceae), showed clear evidence of mycorrhizal infection.

Unexpected Mycorrhizae: Plants in extreme environments often develop mycorrhizae, contrary to previous assumptions.
Nutrient Uptake: Mycorrhizae aids plants in getting nutrients, especially when resources are scarce.
Species Variety: This symbiosis appears in plant families that are typically not associated with mycorrhizae.
Adaptation: This indicates an adaptive strategy enabling plants to survive harsh conditions.

The study also measured the intensity of mycorrhizal infection. The intensity of mycorrhizal infection for all species, except for Carex oreophilla, was no less than 40%, and the calculated percentage of root length colonization (RLC) was equal to or exceeded 80%. In all cases, the intensity of mycorrhizal infection did not differ from or was significantly higher than the mean values calculated according to the database by I.A. Selivanov. Two species, Gagea pusilla and Ranunculus dissectus, were assessed for mycorrhizal infection for the first time.

Why This Matters: Adaptive Strategies in a Changing World

These findings underscore the remarkable adaptability of plants and fungi, even in the most challenging environments. The presence of well-developed mycorrhizae in snow-bed alpine communities suggests that these symbiotic relationships are crucial for plant survival and ecosystem function. As climate change continues to alter snow cover patterns and growing season lengths in alpine regions, understanding these relationships will be vital for predicting how these ecosystems will respond and for developing effective conservation strategies.