BRAINCAKEMycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae are associations between certain fungi and the roots of plants. Most land plants form them, including many crop plants and trees.
The fungus grows long, thin threads called hyphae. These spread through the soil and are connected to the root, acting as an extension of the plant's root system. Because the hyphae are very thin and numerous, they greatly increase the surface area for absorption.
This helps the plant in two main ways:
• it increases the uptake of mineral ions, especially ions such as phosphate that move only slowly through soil;
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More in Nutrient Cycles
- Ammonification
- Nitrification
- Denitrification
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- Natural and Artificial Fertilisers
- Effects of Fertilisers on Productivity
- Leaching
- Eutrophication
All 13 lessons in Nutrient Cycles · All AQA A-level Biology topics