subject: Mycorrhizae - Important For Plant Growth [print this page] Mycorrhizae - Important For Plant Growth Mycorrhizae - Important For Plant Growth
Mycorrhiza or fungus roots' contribute to the development of all land plants. This word has derived from two words "Mycor" and "rhiza" which literally mean "fungus" and "root". The term Mycorrhizae stands for the symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a plant. Planting soil depend on a relationship with its inhabitants that include bacteria, fungi and nutrients. The main aim of these fungi is to colonize plant roots and extend far into the soil to enable the plants to capture required nutrients.
Mycorrhizae are known to exist since the evolution of land plants. Almost all the plant species are found to form this symbiotic relationship with the beneficial mycorrhizal fungi. This association is known to happen either intra-cellularly or extra-cellularly. One of the most important features of these mycorrhizal fungi is to make the plants resistant to diseases that are caused by microbial soil-borne pathogens. Additionally these plants become resistant to the effects of drought too. Furthermore, the presence of mycorrhizae helps gives opportunity to use smaller amounts of nutrients and fertilizers. Mycorrhizae fungi are added to seeded crops, soils and lawns. It is seen that, these beneficial organisms contribute for the development of a plant. Mycorrhizae are helped by the roots of the plants too as in return they feeding on plant waste.
Various types of Mycorrhizae are known to exist. There are Endomycorrhiza, Ectomycorrhiza and Ericoid Mycorrhizae. Ectomycorrhizal fungi do not penetrate individual cells within the root; while the endomycorrhizal fungi penetrate the cell wall and the cell membrane. Endomycorrhiza have further been classified into arbuscular, ericoid, arbutoid, monotropoid, and orchid Mycorrhizae. The filaments of the Arbuscular mycorrhizas enter into the plant cells while producing structures that are balloon-like or arbuscules in feature. Ectomycorrhizal relationships are common in the forests are found in trees that include Oak, Beech and Birch.
Mycorrhizae are quite important for a plant as plants are not capable to break down organic molecules in the soil. Mycorrhizae thus help to absorb some thin film of water-bearing nutrients. In addition to that Mycorrhizae enable the plant roots to access the phosphorus sources present in the soil. These fungi are helpful as they do not pollute the environment like the artificial fertilizers.
