Jennifer McGaley Captures 56-Hour Film of AM Fungi, Revealing Sub-Cellular Motion for First Time
Updated
Updated · University of Cambridge news · Jun 29
Jennifer McGaley Captures 56-Hour Film of AM Fungi, Revealing Sub-Cellular Motion for First Time
3 articles · Updated · University of Cambridge news · Jun 29
Summary
A 56-hour time-lapse let Dr. Jennifer McGaley record arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi growing and collapsing inside rice root cells live for the first time at sub-cellular resolution.
The breakthrough came from a 3D-printed growth chamber with a viewing window and an inverted confocal microscope, allowing researchers to image the fungi without killing them.
McGaley said the films showed arbuscules are highly dynamic: some structures last under 8 hours, while others in the same network persist 2 to 3 times longer.
AM fungi trade soil minerals for plant carbon and may have helped plants colonize land 450 million years ago, making the footage relevant to both basic biology and crop science.
Researchers say the fungi could aid drought resilience, carbon storage and bio-fertilizer development, with related work suggesting mycorrhiza-based treatments may lift rice yields by 5% to 15%.
Ancient fungi boost crops and sequester carbon, so why does modern farming continue to destroy them?
We can now watch these vital fungi live, so why are their biodiversity hotspots still unprotected?
Are new fungal carbon credits a verifiable climate solution or just speculative market hype?
2026’s Groundbreaking Sub-cellular Film and Global Map of AM Fungi: Transforming Imaging, Ecology, and Agriculture
Overview
In 2026, Dr. Jennifer McGaley and her team at cam.ac.uk achieved a major breakthrough by capturing the first continuous time-lapse film of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi at the sub-cellular level. This pioneering observation allows scientists to watch the detailed dynamics of AM fungi as they grow and interact with plant roots, offering a new way to study their development and symbiotic relationships. The film opens up exciting research opportunities, providing valuable insights into how these fungi exchange nutrients with plants, colonize roots, and support soil health and plant resilience.