Mycorrhizae are symbiotic relationships that form between fungi and plants. The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant, providing increased water and nutrient absorption capabilities while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates formed from photosynthesis.
Considering this, what is mycorrhizae and why is it important?
In most cases, the symbiotic relationship between host plants and the mycorrhizal fungus is mutualistic, or mutually beneficial. Mycorrhizal fungi come into direct contact with plant roots and with the soil, adding to the plants ability to gather nutrients and water from the soil through the fungus.
What types of plants have mycorrhizae?
Ectomycorrhizas, or EcM, are typically formed between the roots of around 10% of plant families, mostly woody plants including the birch, dipterocarp, eucalyptus, oak, pine, and rose families, orchids, and fungi belonging to the Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Zygomycota.