Abstract: As an important part of ecosystems, ectomycorrhizal fungi play a significant role in many microbiological and biogeochemical processes, influencing cycling of minerals, boosting soil fertility, and improving plant nutrition. Research advances on mineral weathering by ectomycorrhizal fungi in recent years are reviewed and a brief perspective is provided in this paper. Recent research suggests that ectomycorrhizal fungi may accelerate mineral (apatite, biotite and vermiculite) weathering processes through pressurization, soil acidification of the mycorrhizosphere, and complexation of metal cations with organic acids. Ectomycorrhizal fungi may actively release phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients from apatite, phlogopite, biotite, vermiculite, and certain rock particles. The mineral weathering of ectomycorrhizal fungi is influenced by a number of factors, such as the presence of different types of minerals and fungi, soil nutrient conditions, various forms of nitrogen in different concentrations, growth conditions (pure or symbiotic growth) of fungi, and the presence of other rhizosphere microbes. The processes and mechanisms of ectomycorrhizal weathering can be understood through weathering budgets, analysis of microbial exudates, observations of the mineralfungal interface, and observations of the distribution of carbon. However, quantification of the effects of ectomycorrhizal weathering and the relative contribution of ectomycorrhizal inorganic nutrient mobilization to nutrient cycling has to be further studied.

Key words: melatonin, salt stress, alleviation effect, Ca²⁺, melon (Cucumis melo)