Mycorrhizal ecology and evolution: the past, the present, and the future

Summary Almost all land plants form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi. These below‐ground fungi play a key role in terrestrial ecosystems as they regulate nutrient and carbon cycles, and influence soil structure and ecosystem multifunctionality. Up to 80% of plant N and P is provided by mycorrhizal fungi and many plant species depend on these symbionts for growth and survival. Estimates suggest that there are c . 50 000 fungal species that form mycorrhizal associations with c . 250 000 plant species. The development of high‐throughput molecular tools has helped us to better understand the biology, evolution, and biodiversity of mycorrhizal associations. Nuclear genome assemblies and gene…