Mycorrhiza and their importance
Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between certain fungi and the roots of higher plants .The plants which suffer nutrient scarcity ,especially P and N develops mycorrhiza. Basically there are 3 types of mycorrhiza 1.Ectomycarrhiza: It is found among Gymnosperms and Angiosperms .In short roots of higer plants ,generally roots hair are absent .Therefore the roots are infected by mycorrhizal fungi which ,in turn,replace the root hair (if present ) and form a mantle .The hyphae grow intercellularly and develop harting net in cortex. 2.Endomycorrhiza: The morphology of endomycarrhizal roots after infection and establishment ,remain unchanged .Roots hair develop into a normal way. They also penetrate the cortical cell and get established intracellularly by secreting extracellular enzyme .They are of two types ie I .A.M. fungi(Arbescular Mycorrhizal fungi)-penetrate and profusely branches . ii.VAM(Vessicular Arbescular Mycorrhizal fungi)-produced swollen vassic