Hyphosphere microorganisms facilitate hyphal spreading and root colonization of plant symbiotic fungus in ammonium-enriched soil

Anthropogenic nitrogen inputs lead to a high ammonium (NH 4 + )/nitrate (NO 3 − ) ratio in the soil, which restricts hyphal spreading of soil fungi. Access of symbiotic fungi to roots is a prerequisite for plant-fungal interactions. Hyphosphere bacteria protect fungi from environmental stress, yet the impact of hyphosphere bacteria on adaptation of host fungi to NH 4 + -enriched conditions remains unclear. By developing soil microcosm assays, we report that a plant-symbiotic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris , harbors specific hyphosphere bacteria that facilitate hyphal spreading and assist in the root colonization in NH 4 + -enriched soil. Genetic manipulation, 16S rRNA gene analysis and coinoculation assays revealed that the genus Enterobacter was enriched in the hyphosphere of NH 4 + -sensitive wild-type compared to NH 4 + -preferring nitrite reductase‐deficient strain. The representative Enterobacter sp. SZ2-promoted hyphal spreading is only evident in nonsterilized soil. We further identified an increased abundance and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and a synchronously decreased NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio following SZ2 inoculation. Microbial supplementation and inhibitor assays showed that AOA-mediated reduction in NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio is responsible for SZ2-enhanced fungal adaptation to NH 4 + -enriched conditions. The Ph. liquidambaris - Enterobacter -AOA triple interaction promoted rice growth in NH 4 + -enriched soil. Our study reveals the essential role of hyphosphere microorganism-based hyphal spreading in plant-fungal symbiosis establishment within nitrogen-affected agroecosystems.