What are Mycorrhizae? Explain the types.

Explanation

Mycorrhizae:
1. The symbiotic association between fungal mycelium and roots of plants is called as mycorrhizae.
2. In this relationship fungi absorbs nutrition from the root and in tum the hyphal network of the fungi helps the plant to absorb water and mineral nutrients from the soil.
Types:
1. Ectomycorrhizae :
(i) The fungal mycelium forms a dense sheath around the root called mantle.
(ii) The hyphal network penetrate the intercellular spaces of the epidermis and cortex to form Hartignet. Eg: Pisolithus tinctorius.
2. Endomycorrhizae :
(i) The hyphae grows mainly inside the roots, penetrate the outer cortical cells of the plant root.
(ii) A small portion of the mycelium is found outside the root.
(iii) This form is also called Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (VAM Fungi) due to the presence of Vesicle or arbuscle like haustoria.
(i) Arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) Eg: Gigaspora
(ii) Ericoid mycorrhizae- Eg: Oidiodendrpn
(iii) Orchid mycorrhizae - Eg: Rhizoctonia
3. Ectendomycorrhizae :
The fungi form both mantle and also penetrates the cortical cells.