The Lowdown on the Benefits of Mycorrhizal Fungi
The Lowdown on Mycorrhizae – What makes them so beneficial?
Mycorrhizae are a symbiotic fungal association between your plant’s roots and beneficial fungi.
The main job of mycorrhizae is to increase nutrient and water uptake to the plant by extending the root zone area further into the soil, thus covering a larger volume of soil than the roots can cover alone.
Mycorrhizae are also extremely useful when it comes to protecting your plant from harmful root pathogens and root grazing.
There are two main kinds of mycorrhizae, which we will go into more detail below to explain, but these are called endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae… the former penetrates the roots whereas the latter surrounds the root zone
Mycorrhizas are beneficial fungi growing in association with plant roots and exist by taking sugars from plants ‘in exchange’ for moisture and nutrients gathered from the soil by the fungal strands. The mycorrhizas greatly increase the absorptive area of a plant, acting as extensions to the root system.
The Difference Between Endomycorrhizae and Ectomycorrhizae
Endomycorrhizae
"Endomycorrhiza is a type of mycorrhiza in which the fungal hyphae penetrate the root cells, but do not form a mantle."
– Sometimes referred to as vesicular-arbuscular or VA mycorrhiza.
– Endomycorrhiza are found mainly to associate with herbaceous plants, forming stands within roots, and growing between the living cells.
– They help form a network extending beyond the cell to absorb water & nutrients.
– Intermittently form storage sacs called vesicles.
– They exchange nutrients with living cells via specialised structures called arbuscules, branching out.
Ectomycorrhizae
"Ectomycorrhiza is a type of mycorrhiza in which the fungal hyphae wrap around the plant root and form a mantle, but do not penetrate the root cells."
– Also commonly referred to as ‘sheathing fungi’.
– They help to form a thick mass around feeder roots.
– Ectomycorrhizae help the plant roots branch out in many ways, and while often appearing unnatural it does so without harming them, instead helping them with their fungal strands.
– The fungal sheath sends out branches between the surface cells of the roots so that they can exchange the soil’s nutrients for the plant’s sugars.
– The “Hartig Net” is the name for the network of branches that penetrates the roots.
Endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae are fungi that grow on or inside plant roots that trade phosphates from the soil for carbohydrates made from photosynthesis by the plant.
In Conclusion
With the various benefits that mycorrhizae provide your plant’s root zone, assisting with healthy plant growth and nutrient uptake, it comes as no surprise that serious gardeners won’t go without using mycorrhizae products.
Here are a few highlights from our selection of mycorrhizae products below…
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