Real-time fluorescence imaging platform for high-throughput screening of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhancing plant nutrient uptake

Background Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient soil symbionts that form mutualistic associations with approximately 80% of terrestrial plant species. They enhance host nutrient and water acquisition in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. Current AMF research relies on field trials, compartmented cultivation and pot cultures‒methods that are time-consuming (months to years) and unable to monitor dynamic nutrient transport, thus limiting efficient strain screening. Results We developed a real-time fluorescence imaging platform integrating sterile symbiotic microchambers with photodiode array detection. This system enables non-invasive, quantitative tracking of nutrient flux at plant-fungal interface. Distinct AMF strains exhibit significant differences in fluorescence kinetics—such as accumulation rate and peak intensity—providing measurable indicators of transport efficiency. The platform allows high-throughput functional screening of AMF strains, dramatically accelerating the identification of high-performance symbionts. Conclusion Our method overcome the temporal and technical limitations of conventional AMF screening approaches. By enabling simultaneous real-time monitoring and high-throughput analysis, it shortens screening cycles and establishes a standardized framework for (1) precision breeding of efficiency AMF strains, (2) mechanistic study of nutrient exchange, and (3) development of sustainable microbial inoculants.