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The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.

Absorption of Nutrients

Absorption of Nutrients

Absorption refers to taking dietary nutrients from the intestinal lumen for transportation throughout the body. After digestion in the small intestine, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into simpler forms. These essential macronutrients and other vital substances, such as vitamins, minerals, and water, are then prepared for absorption into the bloodstream.
Enterocytes, which are specialized polar epithelial cells, line the mucosa of the small intestinal walls. These cells...

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.

Protein Absorption

Protein Absorption

Proteins in the gastrointestinal tract typically come from food, but they can also originate from disintegrated cells or secreted enzymes. In the stomach, the enzyme pepsin breaks down these proteins into polypeptides. The fragments then move into the duodenum as a semi-fluid mass called chyme. Pancreatic proteases, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, and intestinal brush border enzymes like carboxypeptidases further dismantle the polypeptides into tripeptides, dipeptides, and free amino acids.

Carbohydrate Absorption

Carbohydrate Absorption

Carbohydrates are essential macronutrients that serve as the body's primary energy source. Their digestion begins in the mouth, where salivary amylase partially breaks down complex carbohydrates such as starch into smaller oligosaccharides. This mechanical and enzymatic activity prepares carbohydrates for further processing in the gastrointestinal tract.
After being swallowed, the partially digested carbohydrates mix with gastric secretions in the stomach. However, the acidic environment...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans

Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: September 13, 2022

Nutrient acquisition strategies by gut microbes.

Matthew K Muramatsu¹, Sebastian E Winter¹

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe

|June 13, 2024

Summary

Gut microbiota composition and function depend on nutrient acquisition and energy metabolism. Inflammation alters gut microbes by changing electron acceptor availability, highlighting metabolism's role in gut health.

Keywords:

bacterial metabolism fermentation gut microbiota respiration

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Host-Microbe Interactions
Metabolic Biochemistry

Background:

Gut microbiota composition and function are linked to host health.
Dietary and host factors shape microbial communities and their metabolism.
Limited oxygen in the gut favors fermentation for energy generation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review microbial nutrient acquisition strategies in the gut.
To highlight the role of energy metabolism in gut microbiota function.
To explore how habitat filters and location influence microbial strategies.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on gut microbiota metabolism.
Analysis of nutrient acquisition strategies in different gut environments.
Examination of energy metabolism's influence on microbial community structure.

Main Results:

Gut microbiota metabolism is crucial for nutrient acquisition and host health.
Inflammation-induced changes in electron acceptors shift microbiota composition.
Bacterial energy metabolism is a primary driver of gut microbiota function.

Conclusions:

Microbial nutrient acquisition and energy metabolism are central to gut ecosystem function.
Understanding these processes is key to modulating gut microbiota for health.
Habitat and host factors dynamically shape microbial metabolic strategies.