Rhizobium and Mycorrhizal Symbiosis

In class we learned about two types of root symbiosis. In the first, Mycorrhizal symbiosis, fungi surrounds the root hairs of plants. This increases the surface area of the root hairs and allows it to better absorb nutrients in the soil. It also provides the plant roots with protection. In exchange the fungi -attached to the root hairs- gets glucose from the plant. In this type of symbiosis, the plant is able to absorb more nutrients from the soil, and the Fungi get glucose from the plant. 90% of all plants have a Mycorrhizal relationship.

The other type of root symbiosis we learned about was Rhizobium symbiosis. This type of symbiosis occurs in legumes. Here, nodules containing the bacteria rhizobium attach themselves to root hairs of the legume. The rhizobuim absorbs and converts unusable nitrogen in the soil, to biologically usable nitrogen; which is then used by the legume. The root of the legume supplies the rhizobium with glucose obtained photosynthetic parts of the plant. So, in this symbiosis, the planet gets usable nitrogen it otherwise would not have had, and the rhizobuim gets glucose from photosynthesis (a process it can not perform).

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Rhizobium
• Mycorrhizal
• Symbiosis

[soilfit]

@jake42091 I have read that mycorrhizal fungi is not impacted as badly as the microbes population when it comes to synthetic chemicals...but IMHO synthetic chemicals are all crap, I would rather have worms and microbes

[jake42091]

ive heard that using miccorizal fungi isnt necessary when youre growing with non organic chemicaly synthinsised nutrients becuase it kills it off anyways, is this true?

[zobcity01]

I used mycohhrizae this year 2010 and many of my plants grew 2 to 5 times in fruits size. Cayenne were huge, the onions were gigantic, rhubarb easily twice as large and the taste of things were very succulent. Also used worm casting tea often in the garden too. Even the leafs on most plants were more full and robust looking. I am thuroughly convinced this fungi is a large contributor to this years unbelievable large fuitings and plant health. All in the same garden space too.

[Emoni171]

wow! excellent! I uderstand better with actually seeing it...thanx :)

[jbo2dajigalo]

the stuff you smell that grows under your toenail

[TheGruntXXX]

so wait is it a fungi =\

[monoloco85]

tus animaciones son pecimas sobre las micorrizas. los hogos micorrizicos aportan principalmente fosfato no agua.

[pardhunani143]

nice job. great animation and original music. i like!!!

[SamuelHammer]

nice job. great animation and original music. i like!!!

human impacts? (assignment of video). well, i'll give you one. when we add fertilizers to the soil we upset the natural chemistry of the soil, disabling or killing off the natural partnerships between plants and fungi or bacteria. This practice is not only unsustainable, it renders the crop plants susceptible to pathogens and it damages the soil by changing pH, adding salts, and killing valuable microbes.