Mycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae’s are extremely important for a plants survival since mycorrhizal plants are known to have greater resistant to plant diseases. This is partially true in nutrient deficient soils or plants grown in soilless media. Plants that are missing mycorrhiza are often slow to grow or may not survive. Mycorrhiza is a term meaning “Fungus Roots” which describes the symbiotic association of plant roots and fungi of a vascular plant. The symbiotic process begins when symbiotic fungal spores germinate and send out a threadlike structure called hyphae. Fungal hypha is any of the threadlike filaments which form the mycelium of a fungus. Hypha fungi is very efficient at absorbing nutrients and water and then transporting them to the host root.
There are several major types of mycorrhizae; ectomycorrhizae, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (endomycorrhizae), and ericoid mycorrhizae. Two important mycorrhizae are ectomycorrhiza and endomycorrhizae and the one that we are most concerned with is endomycorrhizae. The most common type of endomycorrhizae is arbuscular. Arbuscular mycorrhizae’s are known by their unique structure which helps in the uptake of phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen and other micronutrients found in the soil and then make them available to plants. The hyphae found in endomycorrhizae fungi penetrates the cell wall and the hyphae found in ectomycorrhizae does not penetrate cell walls.
The benefits of endomycorrhizae are important in our alkaline soils and will aid in improving plant growth. Endomycorrhizae will also help reduce plant shock. As stated above, endomycorrhizae will assist in providing plant nutrients to the plant as well as the uptake of water to a plant. Overall, the use of endomycorrhizae in our soil will benefit plants by reducing transplant shock, help with water stress, provide some protection in temperature variations which often occurs in our area of the country, and may reduce the need for some elements found in certain fertilizers. The end result is improved plant growth which we are all hoping to achieve.
Mycorrhizae’s are extremely important for a plants survival since mycorrhizal plants are known to have greater resistant to plant diseases. This is partially true in nutrient deficient soils or plants grown in soilless media. Plants that are missing mycorrhiza are often slow to grow or may not survive. Mycorrhiza is a term meaning “Fungus Roots” which describes the symbiotic association of plant roots and fungi of a vascular plant. The symbiotic process begins when symbiotic fungal spores germinate and send out a threadlike structure called hyphae. Fungal hypha is any of the threadlike filaments which form the mycelium of a fungus. Hypha fungi is very efficient at absorbing nutrients and water and then transporting them to the host root.
There are several major types of mycorrhizae; ectomycorrhizae, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (endomycorrhizae), and ericoid mycorrhizae. Two important mycorrhizae are ectomycorrhiza and endomycorrhizae and the one that we are most concerned with is endomycorrhizae. The most common type of endomycorrhizae is arbuscular. Arbuscular mycorrhizae’s are known by their unique structure which helps in the uptake of phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen and other micronutrients found in the soil and then make them available to plants. The hyphae found in endomycorrhizae fungi penetrates the cell wall and the hyphae found in ectomycorrhizae does not penetrate cell walls.
The benefits of endomycorrhizae are important in our alkaline soils and will aid in improving plant growth. Endomycorrhizae will also help reduce plant shock. As stated above, endomycorrhizae will assist in providing plant nutrients to the plant as well as the uptake of water to a plant. Overall, the use of endomycorrhizae in our soil will benefit plants by reducing transplant shock, help with water stress, provide some protection in temperature variations which often occurs in our area of the country, and may reduce the need for some elements found in certain fertilizers. The end result is improved plant growth which we are all hoping to achieve.
