Question

Define Mycorrhiza.

Answer 1

Hint: The mutual symbiotic Association between a fungus and the plant is known as Mycorrhiza. The term mycorrhiza describes the role of the fungus in the plant root system(rhizosphere). Mycorrhizae play important roles in providing nutrition to the plant and also to the soil’s biology and its chemistry.

Complete answer:
-When the root of a plant and a fungus that colonize the root of a plant mutually benefits each other. Then it is known as mycorrhiza.hair the plant and the fungus benefit from each other. Fungal smooth the part of a water and nutrient uptake in the plant whereas plant provides food and nutrients to the fungus created with the help of the photosynthesis process
-there are two types of mycorrhiza-
1) Ectomycorrhiza -This type of mycorrhiza forms a mutual symbiotic relationship between woody plants including Pine, Oak, etc.
2)Endomycorrhiza- The type of mycorrhiza has an exchange mechanism on the inner side of the root with the hyphae of the fungi which is expanded outside of the root. It includes crops and greenhouse plants such as most vegetables, grasses, flowers, and fruit trees.

Additional Information: This type of association is a benefit for those areas where the soil fertility is not that much which means soil lacks nitrogen and phosphorus and also water is not easily accessible. Mycelia of the microorganism are very fine and so small in diameter that they can create the surface area for the better absorption of water, Phosphorus, amino acid, and nitrogen.
-Plants which are having associations with the mycorrhiza are more resistant to the soil-borne diseases
-Mycorrhizal fungi can be an effective method to control the disease of plants.
-Mycorrhizal fungi can also provide resistance to toxicity and resistance to insects to its host plant.

Note: Every plant does not have this mycorrhizal association. plants that grow in the soil where water nutrients are abundant they do not require the assistance of mycorrhizal fungi. Even mycorrhizal fungi do not grow and germinate in such conditions.