Roots, Fungi, and Bacteria

Question 1

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Answer 1

Fungi that grows in on or around the roots of a plant and extend hyphae into the soil. This can be beneficial (SYMBIOTIC)– plants provide sugar to fungi, fungi provides increased P and water uptake to plant (like increasing absorption surface area of plants’ roots) as well as protection. Nearly 95% of plant families have some kind of mycorrhizal relationship.

Question 2

Bacteria and Roots

Answer 2

convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a form the plant can use (NH4+). Plants supply energy (sugar) to the bacteria.

Question 3

Nitrogen availability to plants

Answer 3

Nitrogen is the only soil nutrient not available to plants by weathering of soil so plants cannot utilize N2 gas directly. Increased access to nitrogen from bacteria

Question 4

Rhizobium bateria

Answer 4

live on nodules on the legume (fabaceae) plant roots. Fix nitrogen from almost none to over 200 lb/acre. The rate of nitrogen fixation directly related to plant growth rate.