Symbiosis
&
Function
&
Function
This type of biological interaction defines the relationship between plants and mycorrhizal fungi.
What is mutualism?
This structure forms a network around plant roots, increasing absorption capacity.
What is fungal hyphae (mycelial network)?
Mycorrhizae release these to break down tightly bound nutrients in soil.
What are enzymes?
Mycorrhizae help reduce this common issue when moving plants.
What is transplant shock?
This type of mycorrhizae grows outside the root surface.
What are ectomycorrhizae?
Plants provide this essential resource to fungi in exchange for nutrients.
What are carbohydrates (sugars/carbon)?
This specific structure forms between root cells in some mycorrhizal associations.
What is the Hartig net?
These nutrients are specifically mentioned as being released from soil by fungal activity.
What are phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and some nitrogen (N)?
This type of stress is reduced due to improved water uptake
What is drought stress?
Ectomycorrhizae occur in approximately this percentage of plants.
What is about 5%?
Mycorrhizae primarily enhance the uptake of this limiting macronutrient in soils.
What is phosphorus (P)?
Mycorrhizae can increase root surface area by this magnitude.
What is 100 to 1000 times?
This explains why mycorrhizae are critical in soils with unavailable nutrients.
What is conversion of insoluble nutrients into plant-available forms?
Mycorrhizae improve tolerance to this soil condition involving dissolved salts.
What is salinity stress?
These types of plants most commonly form ectomycorrhizal relationships.
What are woody plants (especially trees)?
This explains why mycorrhizae are especially beneficial in nutrient-poor soils.
What is increased nutrient acquisition efficiency beyond root depletion zones?
This explains how fungal networks extend resource access beyond root zones.
What is hyphal exploration into soil microsites inaccessible to roots?
This function allows mycorrhizae to improve environmental soil quality.
What is pollutant filtration (e.g., heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic)?
This explains why mycorrhizal plants maintain better growth under low nutrient conditions.
What is increased efficiency of nutrient uptake per unit root mass?
This explains the difference in how ectomycorrhizae interact with roots compared to internal types.
What is intercellular growth between root cells rather than inside them?
This concept explains the trade-off where plants allocate carbon to fungi instead of growth.
What is carbon cost vs. nutrient acquisition benefit?
This describes how fungal networks can span extremely large distances in soil.
What is several hundred to several thousand miles of connected hyphae?
This soil interaction explains improved nutrient uptake even without added fertilizer.
What is enhanced nutrient mobilization and absorption efficiency?
This broader concept explains how mycorrhizae stabilize plant performance under multiple stresses.
What is improved overall plant resilience (stress buffering)?
Name three genera of trees commonly associated with ectomycorrhizae.
What are pine, oak, spruce, birch, eucalyptus, hickory, or pecan? (any three)