{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T05:57:14Z","timestamp":1790575034554,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790553600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Plant Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Improving the functional benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is considered an important part of developing more sustainable and resilient crop production systems. However, the outcomes of AMF symbioses vary substantially depending on environmental conditions, soil fertility, fungal community composition, and host genotype. Even among varieties of the same crop species, responses to AMF colonization can differ considerably, yet methods for quantifying functional plant\u2013AMF interactions remain labour-intensive and often fail to capture symbiotic efficiency directly. Here, we propose that ergothioneine (EGT), a sulfur-containing antioxidant amino acid whose accumulation in plants appears to be strongly influenced by AMF-associated pathways, may serve as an integrated biochemical indicator of functional AMF-mediated nutrient exchange. We hypothesize that variation in plant EGT accumulation between crop varieties reflects differences in the regulation and functional performance of plant\u2013AMF interactions, possibly including symbiotic signalling, carbon allocation, nutrient exchange efficiency, and\/or rhizosphere microbial dynamics. We present new results showing differences in grain EGT concentration among five spring wheat varieties, supporting the possibility that host genotype influences AMF-associated EGT accumulation. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these differences, evaluate alternative explanations, and outline experimental approaches for testing the relationship between EGT accumulation and functional plant\u2013AMF interactions. If validated, EGT quantification could provide a scalable and straightforward approach for identifying crop genotypes with enhanced responsiveness to AMF-mediated nutrient acquisition, with potential applications in breeding and management strategies for low-input and ecologically sustainable agriculture.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2026.1894503","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T05:44:45Z","timestamp":1790574285000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Could ergothioneine serve as an indicator of functional plant-AMF interactions in crop plants?"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Valter","family":"Weijola","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biodiversity Sciences, University of Turku","place":["Turku, Finland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lena F.","family":"Nielsen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biodiversity Sciences, University of Turku","place":["Turku, Finland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Benjamin","family":"Fuchs","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biodiversity Sciences, University of Turku","place":["Turku, Finland"]},{"name":"Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University","place":["Slagelse, Denmark"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"824","DOI":"10.1038\/nature03608","article-title":"Plant sesquiterpenes induce hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi","volume":"435","author":"Akiyama","year":"2005","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1691","DOI":"10.1093\/advances\/nmab015","article-title":"Higher mushroom consumption is associated with lower risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies","volume":"12","author":"Ba","year":"2021","journal-title":"Adv. Nutr."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"666","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-3040.2009.01926.x","article-title":"Regulation and function of root exudates","volume":"32","author":"Badri","year":"2009","journal-title":"Plant Cell Environ."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.arplant.57.032905.105159","article-title":"The role of root exudates in rhizosphere interactions with plants and other organisms","volume":"57","author":"Bais","year":"2006","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Plant Biol."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2336","DOI":"10.1039\/CT9119902336","article-title":"CCLVII.\u2014The constitution of ergothioneine: a betaine related to histidine","volume":"99","author":"Barger","year":"1911","journal-title":"J. Chem. Soc Trans."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1231","DOI":"10.1002\/1873-3468.14308","article-title":"Health consequences of improving the content of ergothioneine in the food supply","volume":"596","author":"Beelman","year":"2022","journal-title":"FEBS Lett."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/agronomy11112278","article-title":"Soil disturbance impact on crop ergothioneine content connects soil and human health","volume":"11","author":"Beelman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Agronomy"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2019.01068","article-title":"Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant growth regulation: implications in abiotic stress tolerance","volume":"10","author":"Begum","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Plant Sci."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1007\/s00374-019-01430-2","article-title":"Exploring phosphorus fertilizers and fertilization strategies for improved human and environmental health","volume":"56","author":"Bindraban","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biol. Fertil. Soils"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1017\/S0954422419000301","article-title":"The biology of ergothioneine, an antioxidant nutraceutical","volume":"33","author":"Borodina","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nutr. Res. Rev."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2023.1225174","article-title":"Ideotype breeding for crop adaptation to low phosphorus availability on extensive organic farms","volume":"14","author":"Carkner","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front. Plant Sci."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.still.2024.106283","article-title":"Reduced tillage agriculture may improve plant nutritional quality through increased mycorrhizal colonization and uptake of the antioxidant ergothioneine","volume":"244","author":"Carrara","year":"2024","journal-title":"Soil Tillage Res."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1002\/ppp3.10370","article-title":"Linking soil health to human health: arbuscular mycorrhizae play a key role in plant uptake of the antioxidant ergothioneine from soils","volume":"5","author":"Carrara","year":"2023","journal-title":"Plants People Planet"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbrc.2016.07.074","article-title":"Ergothioneine levels in an elderly population decrease with age and incidence of cognitive decline; a risk factor for neurodegeneration","volume":"478","author":"Cheah","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agee.2017.06.001","article-title":"Can our global food system meet food demand within planetary boundaries","volume":"251","author":"Conijn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Agric. Ecosyst. Environ."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1016\/j.soilbio.2004.06.011","article-title":"Characterization of glomalin as a hyphal wall component of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi","volume":"37","author":"Driver","year":"2005","journal-title":"Soil Biol. Biochem."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"646","DOI":"10.1111\/nph.12827","article-title":"Fungal nutrient allocation in common mycorrhizal networks is regulated by the carbon source strength of individual host plants","volume":"203","author":"Fellbaum","year":"2014","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5256","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0408624102","article-title":"Discovery of the ergothioneine transporter","volume":"102","author":"Gr\u00fcndemann","year":"2005","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-cellbio-101512-122413","article-title":"Cell and developmental biology of arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis","volume":"29","author":"Gutjahr","year":"2013","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3357","DOI":"10.1002\/1873-3468.13123","article-title":"Ergothioneine\u2014a diet-derived antioxidant with therapeutic potential","volume":"592","author":"Halliwell","year":"2018","journal-title":"FEBS Lett."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"512","DOI":"10.1139\/b93-056","article-title":"Mycorrhizal dependence of modern wheat cultivars and ancestors: a synthesis","volume":"71","author":"Hetrick","year":"1993","journal-title":"Can. J. Bot."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"868","DOI":"10.1111\/tpj.13423","article-title":"Improving phosphorus use efficiency: a complex trait with emerging opportunities","volume":"90","author":"Heuer","year":"2017","journal-title":"Plant J."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8249","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-35148-x","article-title":"Uncovering the impact of AM fungi on wheat nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense under salinity stress","volume":"13","author":"Huang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8137.1992.tb01077.x","article-title":"External hyphae of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Trifolium subterraneum L. 1. Spread of hyphae and phosphorus inflow into roots","volume":"120","author":"Jakobsen","year":"1992","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"575","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1469-8137.1997.00729.x","article-title":"Functioning of mycorrhizal associations along the mutualism\u2013parasitism continuum","volume":"135","author":"Johnson","year":"1997","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7554\/eLife.29107","article-title":"Lipid transfer from plants to arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi","volume":"6","author":"Keymer","year":"2017","journal-title":"eLife"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"880","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1208473","article-title":"Reciprocal rewards stabilize cooperation in the mycorrhizal symbiosis","volume":"333","author":"Kiers","year":"2011","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1071\/BT06118","article-title":"Roots of the second green revolution","volume":"55","author":"Lynch","year":"2007","journal-title":"Aust. J. Bot."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1007\/s11120-018-0538-4","article-title":"Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi protects photosynthetic apparatus of wheat under drought stress","volume":"139","author":"Mathur","year":"2019","journal-title":"Photosynth. Res."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1071\/FP16191","article-title":"Defence mechanisms associated with mycorrhiza-induced resistance in wheat against powdery mildew","volume":"44","author":"Mustafa","year":"2017","journal-title":"Funct. Plant Biol."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.soilbio.2022.108574","article-title":"A critical review of the use of lipid signature molecules for the quantification of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi","volume":"166","author":"Olsson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Soil Biol. Biochem."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1093\/jexbot\/52.356.551","article-title":"Compartmentation of transport and transfer events in developing seeds","volume":"52","author":"Patrick","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Exp. Bot."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03840.x","article-title":"The relative contribution of hyphae and roots to phosphorus uptake by arbuscular mycorrhizal plants, measured by dual labelling with 32P and 33P","volume":"124","author":"Pearson","year":"1993","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"611","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8137.1995.tb03031.x","article-title":"Functional compatibility in arbuscular mycorrhizas measured as hyphal P transport to the plant","volume":"129","author":"Ravnskov","year":"1995","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2281","DOI":"10.1016\/j.febslet.2007.04.013","article-title":"Transporters for uptake and allocation of organic nitrogen compounds in plants","volume":"581","author":"Rentsch","year":"2007","journal-title":"FEBS Lett."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"691","DOI":"10.1136\/heartjnl-2019-315485","article-title":"Ergothioneine is associated with reduced mortality and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease","volume":"106","author":"Smith","year":"2020","journal-title":"Heart"},{"key":"B37","volume-title":"Mycorrhizal Symbiosis","author":"Smith","year":"2008"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-arplant-042110-103846","article-title":"Roles of arbuscular mycorrhizas in plant nutrition and growth: new paradigms from cellular to ecosystem scales","volume":"62","author":"Smith","year":"2011","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Plant Biol."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rhisph.2021.100369","article-title":"The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus intraradices reduces the root rot caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum in wheat","volume":"19","author":"Spagnoletti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rhizosphere"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-arplant-050312-120215","article-title":"Seed-development programs: a systems biology\u2013based comparison between dicots and monocots","volume":"64","author":"Sreenivasulu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Plant Biol."},{"key":"B41","first-page":"222","article-title":"Sur une base nouvelle retiree du seigle ergote, l\u2019ergothioneine","volume":"149","author":"Tanret","year":"1909","journal-title":"C. R. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2012.00021","article-title":"Molecular evolution of plant AAP and LHT amino acid transporters","volume":"3","author":"Tegeder","year":"2012","journal-title":"Front. Plant Sci."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"921","DOI":"10.1111\/1365-2745.12788","article-title":"Are mycorrhizal fungi our sustainable saviours? Considerations for achieving food security","volume":"105","author":"Thirkell","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Ecol."},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1725","DOI":"10.1111\/gcb.14851","article-title":"Carbon for nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and wheat varies according to cultivar and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration","volume":"26","author":"Thirkell","year":"2020","journal-title":"Global Change Biol."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114522003592","article-title":"Ergothioneine: an underrecognised dietary micronutrient required for healthy ageing","volume":"129","author":"Tian","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6762","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.69.11.6762-6767.2003","article-title":"Fungal lipid accumulation and development of mycelial structures by two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi","volume":"69","author":"van Aarle","year":"2003","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1461-0248.2007.01139.x","article-title":"The unseen majority: soil microbes as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems","volume":"11","author":"van der Heijden","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ecol. Lett."},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1406","DOI":"10.1111\/nph.13288","article-title":"Mycorrhizal ecology and evolution: the past, the present, and the future","volume":"205","author":"van der Heijden","year":"2015","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8137.2012.04190.x","article-title":"Opportunities for improving phosphorus-use efficiency in crop plants","volume":"195","author":"Veneklaas","year":"2012","journal-title":"New Phytol."},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15159","DOI":"10.1038\/nplants.2015.159","article-title":"Regulation of resource exchange in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis","volume":"1","author":"Walder","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nat. Plants"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7554\/eLife.37093","article-title":"Blumenols as shoot markers of root symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi","volume":"7","author":"Wang","year":"2018","journal-title":"eLife"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pedobi.2009.10.002","article-title":"Plant pathogen protection by arbuscular mycorrhizas: a role for fungal diversity","volume":"53","author":"Wehner","year":"2010","journal-title":"Pedobiologia"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1004347701584","article-title":"A survey of soils for aggregate stability and glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi","volume":"198","author":"Wright","year":"1998","journal-title":"Plant Soil"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tplants.2021.11.008","article-title":"Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi conducting the hyphosphere bacterial orchestra","volume":"27","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Trends Plant Sci."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Plant Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpls.2026.1894503\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T05:44:46Z","timestamp":1790574286000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpls.2026.1894503\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"references-count":54,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpls.2026.1894503"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpls.2026.1894503","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-462X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-462X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"article-number":"1894503"}}