Filling gaps in our understanding of belowground plant traits across the world: an introduction to a Virtual Issue.

Keywords: belowground strategy; belowground terrestrial ecology; mycorrhizal fungi; resource acquisition; root traits; roots; trait function; Virtual Issue EN belowground strategy belowground terrestrial ecology mycorrhizal fungi resource acquisition root traits roots trait function Virtual Issue 2097 2103 7 08/19/21 20210915 NES 210915 The belowground world is one of the final frontiers in terrestrial ecology. Linking root traits with fungal traits Belowground plant strategies encompass more than just root traits, and complex plant interactions with the surrounding rhizosphere microbial community - especially mycorrhizal fungi - are important for plant root survival and resource acquisition (Strullu-Derrien I et al i ., 2018). Even after roots die, the decomposition of roots by soil microbial communities is often mediated by root traits and root associations with mycorrhizal fungi, in addition to the surrounding environment (Lin I et al i ., 2020; Jiang I et al i ., 2021). Linking root form with function While assessments of fine-root trait variation are critically important, our ultimate goal is to link root traits with root function and whole-plant strategies. [Extracted from the article]