Interactions between a mycorrhiza helper bacterium and arbuscular mycorrhizas

Pseudomonas fluorescens C7R12 was shown to promote arbuscular mycorrhization and to act as a ‘Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria’ (MHB). The complex interactions between this model strain, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and host-plants were analysed by assessing the specificity of these interactions and by characterizing bacterial cell organization on mycorrhizal roots. Evaluation of the interaction specificity relied on the comparison of the bacterial effect on (i) the in vitro saprophytic growth of Glomus mosseae and Gigasopora rosea and (ii) the root colonization of two different plant species (Medicago truncatula and Lycopersicon esculentum) by the two AM fungal species. Characterization of …