Fungal genomic trait-based ecological strategies mediate plant productivity

Trait-based approaches are increasingly applied to elucidate the microbial mechanisms that drive nutrient cycling and plant productivity in the rhizosphere. Genomic traits constraining trade-offs among functional traits are emerging as critical dimensions of ecological strategies. Although phenotypic traits have been studied extensively, the ecological relevance of genomic traits in shaping ecological strategies remains unclear. Here, we propose that genome size and guanine-cytosine content constitute core axes that integrate genomic architecture with fungal trade-offs in growth yield, resource acquisition, and stress tolerance. We synthesize current evidence on how genomic traits adapt to environmental gradients and how they influence fungal ecological strategies that modulate plant–fungi interactions. Advancing this conceptual framework promises deeper insight into trait–environment dynamics and plant–microbe interactions across environmental gradients.