Globally, phosphorus (P) limits productivity of trees in many forests and plantations especially in highly weathered, acidic or calcareous profiles. Most trees form mycorrhizal associations which are prevalent in the organic and mineral soil horizons. This review critically examines mechanisms that enhance the acquisition of P by tree roots. Mycorrhizal roots have a greater capacity to take up phosphate (Pi) from the soil solution than non-mycorrhizal root tips. Factors that contribute to this include the extent of extraradical hyphal penetration of soil and the physiology and biochemistry of the fungal/soil and fungal/plant interfaces. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) trees are likely to benefit from association with basidiomycetes that possess several high-affinity Pi transporters that are expressed in extraradical hyphae and whose expression is enhanced by P deficiency. To understand fully the role of these putative transporters in the symbiosis, data regarding their localization, Pi transport capacities and regulation are required. Some ECM fungi are able to effect release of Pi from insoluble mineral P through excretion of low-molecular-weight organic anions such as oxalate, but the relative contribution of insoluble P dissolution in situ remains to be quantified. How the production of oxalate is regulated by nitrogen remains a key question to be answered. Lastly, phosphatase release from mycorrhizas is likely to play a significant role in the acquisition of Pi from labile organic forms of P (Po). As labile forms of Po can constitute the major fraction of the total P in some tropical and temperate soils, a greater understanding of the forms of Po available to the phosphatases is warranted.

Eucalyptus species are considered to have ectomycorrhizas (ECM), but many also have vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) and their relative importance is unclear. Interactions between ECM and VAM fungi colonizing roots of Eucalyptus species were examined in a glasshouse experiment. This experiment investigated competition between these two types of fungi and compared benefits provided to Eucalyptus globulus and E. urophylla. Eucalyptus seedlings were inoculated with spores of the ECM fungus Laccaria lateritia and/or pot‐ culture soil for a VAM fungus (species of Glomus, Acaulospora or Scutellospora). Initial inoculum levels were important, as VAM fungi became established much more rapidly than Laccaria. In plants with both types of mycorrhizas, Laccaria mycorrhizas substantially increased after 2 or 3 months and the proportion of roots with VAM declined. However, the proportion of roots with VAM also decreased significantly in plants without ECM after 2 months. Thus, the relative susceptibility of eucalypt roots to these mycorrhizal associations changed. Substantial growth responses to mycorrhizal inoculation occurred when a low concentration of phosphorus fertilization was used (5 mg kg⁻¹), but not at a higher concentration (10 mg kg⁻¹). Treatments where Laccaria was applied, alone or in combination with a VAM fungus, resulted in the largest growth increases relative to nonmycorrhizal plants. An Acaulospora isolate was the most effective VAM fungus for E. urophylla although other VAM fungi also increased growth relative to the control. VAM fungi alone had little effect on E. globulus growth, but plants inoculated with both ECM and VAM fungi were larger than plants only inoculated with Laccaria. ECM fungi had a major impact on root system form by reducing the proportion of fine roots (specific root length) relative to nonmycorrhizal plants or those with VAM. Changes in root colonization patterns over time must be considered in studies of ECM/VAM interactions, as there can be substantial changes in the relative importance of the two associations.