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> arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions This is REALLY interesting. I was just looking at horizontal gene transfer, which is the idea of genes transfering betwe

> arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions This is REALLY interesting. I was just looking at horizontal gene transfer, which is the idea of genes transfering between plant species via the mycorhizzal hyphea (root highway bettween plant and mushroom mycelium). https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=samstave#38756295 https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=samstave#38756295 Look at the minerals which are transfered via the Hyphea: (conductive) >mycorrhizae, known as root fungi, form symbiotic associations with plant roots. In these associations, the fungi are actually integrated into the physical structure of the root. The fungi colonize the living root tissue during active plant growth. Through mycorrhization >>the plant obtains phosphate and other minerals, such as zinc and copper, from the soil. >The fungus obtains nutrients, such as sugars, from the plant root. Mycorrhizae help increase the surface area of the plant root system because hyphae, which are narrow, can spread beyond the nutrient depletion zone. <-- may lead to why the plants may seem far enough apart. Whats interesting to note would be the conductivity of the mycelial network entangled the root system. I'd bet you could find the absolute right frequency based on plant species.. What would have been a truly interesting alternate history would have been if Tesla would have prevailed. Both through wireless power transfer, but, relating to this - his transfer of electricity through the ground. I wonder if that had become an adopted technology if we would have seen an effect on the flora? EDIT: I'd really like to know what the electrical impulses between a mycorhyzzal (Gunna start calling it Mz) and a plants root system is - They specifically connect with "vascular root" based species... This seems to indicate plants whith root systems which may be conductive. The metaphysical Alex Grey in me wants to believe that the mycelium is just mycological neurons without a body and sybiotically parasites its way around in a Beneficial Dictator manner in which it is a net positive viral biological entity. (but its still a neuron)

westurner 3y ago
FWIU ground discharge is a significant liability; "must've been lodestone there". Higher EC soil is presumably a better path to ground. Lightning current is too strong and damages plants. Null hypothesis: There are no companion planting approaches that result in greater yield due to idk symbiotic Eh-Ph homeostasis Three Sisters: Corn, Bean, Squash Tomatoes and potatoes grow well together in a 5gal HDPE bucket with hole cut into the side to access the potatoes; no idea whether there is electrical production from the tomatoes waving in the wind Companion planting > Mechanisms doesn't list soil EC or electricity Output given e.g. Eh-Ph and moisture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_planting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_planting
culi 3y ago
Over 95% of plants make mycorrhizal associations and many are actually completely dependent on mycorrhizae. Most plant roots aren't actually made for "sucking up nutrients" but rather for trading sugars for minerals and other nutrients with mycorrhizal fungi. It's not at all accurate to label these "parasites" in my opinion. Plants that have these associations produce larger fruit, are more resistant to pests, can withstand both droughts AND frosts better, and are generally significantly healthier. These networks transfer more than just nutrients. It's also a communication network that allows plants across species to warn each other of pests. Recent research shows that even RNA might be being transmitted through mycorrhizal networks and we know that mother trees are able to identify their offspring and send specific nutrients to them and possibly even some sort of chemical, acquired memories. HGT is not at all unique to mycorrhizal fungi. One interesting example is the dodder plant which is an obligate "parasite" that can affect many different species of plants. A very large portion of its DNA is now plant genes from various species its parasitized. Though it's not clear if these genes are used. It also turns out that dodder plants too can act as above-ground communication networks; allowing plants to warn each other of pests and other threats. But more and more evidence is emerging that HGT is much more common than we would predict in even mammals and fish. The gene to produce a crucial antifreeze protein in smelt came from herrings for example: https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-species-no-one-knows-how-often-20210609/ https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-spec... > I'd bet you could find the absolute right frequency based on plant species There's two major types of mycorrhizal fungi: arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal (there's also endo- but these, by definition, aren't soil fungi). Arbuscular fungi seem to have very low host specificity and are kinda "generalists". One species found in Australia was found to improve crop yields amongst almost every single crop they tested it on. The complex handshake that goes on between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi seems to be very ancient (fungi made it on to the land first and plants likely wouldn't have survived without their help). I would guess that most plant species evolved to support this ancient language and there isn't enough variation to differentiate anything at the species level. Perhaps you'd have more luck with ectomycorrhizal fungi, but even then I would assume the frequency is much more likely to be associated with fungi species than plant species.
- samstave 3y ago

westurner 3y ago

FWIU ground discharge is a significant liability; "must've been lodestone there". Higher EC soil is presumably a better path to ground. Lightning current is too strong and damages plants. Null hypothesis: There are no companion planting approaches that result in greater yield due to idk symbiotic Eh-Ph homeostasis Three Sisters: Corn, Bean, Squash Tomatoes and potatoes grow well together in a 5gal HDPE bucket with hole cut into the side to access the potatoes; no idea whether there is electrical production from the tomatoes waving in the wind Companion planting > Mechanisms doesn't list soil EC or electricity Output given e.g. Eh-Ph and moisture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_planting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_planting

culi 3y ago

Over 95% of plants make mycorrhizal associations and many are actually completely dependent on mycorrhizae. Most plant roots aren't actually made for "sucking up nutrients" but rather for trading sugars for minerals and other nutrients with mycorrhizal fungi. It's not at all accurate to label these "parasites" in my opinion. Plants that have these associations produce larger fruit, are more resistant to pests, can withstand both droughts AND frosts better, and are generally significantly healthier. These networks transfer more than just nutrients. It's also a communication network that allows plants across species to warn each other of pests. Recent research shows that even RNA might be being transmitted through mycorrhizal networks and we know that mother trees are able to identify their offspring and send specific nutrients to them and possibly even some sort of chemical, acquired memories. HGT is not at all unique to mycorrhizal fungi. One interesting example is the dodder plant which is an obligate "parasite" that can affect many different species of plants. A very large portion of its DNA is now plant genes from various species its parasitized. Though it's not clear if these genes are used. It also turns out that dodder plants too can act as above-ground communication networks; allowing plants to warn each other of pests and other threats. But more and more evidence is emerging that HGT is much more common than we would predict in even mammals and fish. The gene to produce a crucial antifreeze protein in smelt came from herrings for example: https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-species-no-one-knows-how-often-20210609/ https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-spec... > I'd bet you could find the absolute right frequency based on plant species There's two major types of mycorrhizal fungi: arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal (there's also endo- but these, by definition, aren't soil fungi). Arbuscular fungi seem to have very low host specificity and are kinda "generalists". One species found in Australia was found to improve crop yields amongst almost every single crop they tested it on. The complex handshake that goes on between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi seems to be very ancient (fungi made it on to the land first and plants likely wouldn't have survived without their help). I would guess that most plant species evolved to support this ancient language and there isn't enough variation to differentiate anything at the species level. Perhaps you'd have more luck with ectomycorrhizal fungi, but even then I would assume the frequency is much more likely to be associated with fungi species than plant species.

samstave 3y ago