fungus

Mycorrhizal fungi  If you have ever got to enjoy the shade of an oak, embellished a pine, spruce or Douglas fir as a Christmas tree, loved the beauty of an orchid, or eaten a blueberry or chanterelle mushroom, you have been benefited from the hidden world of mycorrhizal fungi , a world that makes the survival of most of earth's land plants possible. Mycorrhizal fungal filaments (mycelia) radiate into the soil from mycorrhizae-colonized root tips, extending the capacity of the plant’s root system to absorb water and nutrients Mycorrhizal fungi have existed since the first plants appeared on dry land more than 450 million years ago. They form a close symbiotic relationship with plant roots. They are referred as mycorrhizae from the Greek " mukés ", that means fungus, and " rhiza ," that means roots. The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant, providing increased water and nutrient absorption capabilities while the plant provides the fu...