Arbuscular mycorrhizae in metalliferous and aluminum-rich soils.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate toxicity and support plant growth in metalliferous and aluminum-rich soils, with most hyperaccumulator plant genera likely forming symbioses.

• Why it matters: Understanding how AM fungi help plants survive in toxic soils is crucial for conservation and restoration in these challenging environments, yet direct natural evidence is limited.
• What they did: The review synthesizes global data on AM mechanisms, ecological roles, and community composition, highlighting that AM fungi alleviate metal and Al toxicity through multiple processes and are prevalent in hyperaccumulator plant genera.
• The result: This knowledge gap identification will guide future research on AMF diversity and function, ultimately aiding efforts to conserve and restore plant communities in metal- and Al-rich ecosystems.