Introduction to Mycorrhiza

1. K. Surendirakumar
Introduction
to
MYCORRHIZA

2. What is Mycorrhiza?
Albert Bernhard Frank (1885) – Germam botanist- Mycorrhiza from
Greek “mukes +rhiza” means “fungus+ root”.
Mycorrhiza- Most important type of symbiotic plant-fungus
association (Lewis-1985)
•movement of nutrients - carbon flows to the fungus and inorganic
nutrients move to the plant
•mycorrhizas normally occur in roots, primary role of mycorrhizas is the
transfer of mineral nutrients from fungus to plant.

3. Cont…
• Mycorrhizas require synchronized plant-fungus
development, since hyphae only colonized young
roots
Present in 90% of plants (83% Dicots, 79% Monocots
and 100% Gymnosperms).
Brassicaceae, Cyperaceae, and Juncaceae- do not have
mycorrhizal associations (10-20%).

4. Benefits of Mycorrhizae
Produce more vigorous and healthy plants
Increase plant establishment and survival at seedling or
transplanting,
Enhance flowering and fruiting,
Increase yields and crop quality,
Improve drought tolerance, allowing watering reduction,
Optimize fertilizers use, especially phosphorus,
increase tolerance to soil salinity,
Reduce disease occurrence,
Contribute to maintain soil quality and nutrient cycling,
contribute to control soil erosion.

5. Mycorrhizae
Ectomuc

6. Classification of Mycorrhiza
Based on tropic level by A.B. Frank
Ectotropic Mycorrhiza
Endotropic Mycorrhiza
Based on morphological and anatomical feature
Ectomycorrhiza
Endomycorrhiza
Ectendomycorrhiza

7. Broadly classify into seven categories
•Endomycorrhiza (AM / VAM)
•Ectomycorrhiza (ECM)
•Monotropoid Mycorrhiza
•Arbutoid Mycorrhiza
•Orchid Mycorrhiza
•Ericoid Mycorrhiza
•Ectendo- mycorrhiza

8. Type of mycorrhizae
No. Mycorrhiza Fungi -Phylum Definition Host
1 Endomycorrhiza (AM) Glomeromycota Glomeromycotan fungi- Arbuscules, vesicles Plants (All types)
2 Ectomycorrhiza (ECM) Higher fungi
(asco,basidio and
zycomycetes)
Hyphal mantle, Harting net Plants (Trees) Pinaceae, Fagaceae,
Myrtaceae and Betulaceae
3 Monotropoid
Mycorrhiza
Basidiomycetes Exploitative epidermal ECM-myco-heterotropic
plants-Ericaceae-individual hyphae penetrate
epidermal cells
achlorophyllous plants -Monotropaceae,
Ericaceae (Monotropa, Pterospora)
4 Arbutoid Mycorrhiza Basidiomycetes ECM of autotropic plants-Ericaceae-multiple hyphae Arbutus, Arctostaphylos and several species
of the Pyrolaceae, Ericaceae
5 Orchid Mycorrhiza Most are Basidiomycetes Coils of hyphae (pelotons)penetrate within cells Orchidaceae
6 Ericoid Mycorrhiza Most are Ascomycetes Coils of hyphae within very thin roots -Ericaceae Callanu and Rhododendron Ericaceae (most
genera)
7 Ectendo- mycorrhiza Ascomycetes Several fungi colonize single plant-lacking hyphae in
harting net
Eucalyuptus, Alnus, Salix etc…

9. Arbutoid mycorrhiza
Ericoid mycorrhiza
Orchid mycorrhiza
Endomycorrhiza and Ectomycorrhiza
Monotropoid mycorrhiza
Pelotons