Answer: Mycorrhiza is a mutualistic association between a fungus and the roots of a higher plant; its types are ectomycorrhiza and endomycorrhiza.
Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic (mutualistic) association between fungal hyphae and the roots of higher plants such as pine, oak and many crop plants.
Types:
- Ectomycorrhiza: the fungus forms a mantle on the root surface and its hyphae grow between cortical cells without entering them (e.g. in pine, eucalyptus).
- Endomycorrhiza: the hyphae enter the cortical cells and form vesicles and arbuscules, e.g. vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) formed by Glomus.
Benefits (any two):
- Increase absorption of water and minerals, especially phosphorus, by increasing the absorbing surface.
- Give resistance to root pathogens and tolerance to drought and salinity.
- Act as biofertilisers, improving plant growth and yield; the fungus in turn gets sugars from the plant.
