mycorrhizae Flashcards
what does mycorrhizae mean?
this word means ‘fungus-root’
what is mycorrhizae an example of and what is another example of this?
it is an example of a mutualistic relationship between two species in which they both benefit nutritionally. another example of a mutualistic relationship is in legumes and nitrogen fixing bacteria.
what is mycorrhizae?
mycorrhizae is a beneficial association between the roots of most plants and certain species of fungus. in a mycorrhizal association, the fungus colonizes the host plant’s roots. they grow in and around the roots producing a large system of threads or hyphae. this provides the fungus with carbohydrates, such as glucose and sucrose. the carbohydrates are translocated from their source (usually leaves) to root tissue and on to the fungus. in return, the plant gains the benefits of the fungal hyphae’s greater ability to absorb water and minerals due to the large surface area of the thread like hyphae. the hyphae seem to be more efficient than plant roots at absorbing certain mineral ions such as phosphates. they also play an important role in protecting plants from drought.
