What is the symbiosis between fungi and root hairs?

Nitrogen fixation (by plants and fungi) improves the soil for the plants while providing a 'home' or nodule for the fungi.What is the symbiosis between fungi and root hairs?
It is believed that most plants cannot survive in their natural habitat without this symbiotic relationship, many form both endo- %26amp; ecto-mycorrhizal partnerships. Only 3 terrestrial plant families do NOT form this association: the Brassicaceae; The Crucifer Family; Chenopodiaceae, The Goosefoot Family; Cyperaceae; The Sedge Family. Also no aquatic plants.


Plant benefits:


Increased root surface- for more absorption of nutrients and water. The fungus effectively extends the roots farther.


Plant growth regulators.


Protection from some pathogens.





Ectomycorrhizal Fungi form a sheath around the root tip of the plant. These mycorrhizal fungi form a partnership with plants, especially trees. These fungi include Basidiomycota and the Ascomycota that form large fruitbodies, such as morels, puffballs, truffles, etc.











Endomycorrhizae-contain 130 species of fungi classified in the order Glomales. They do not form a sheath around the plant root.





85% of all plant families form this symbiosis, including grasses, so it is the most common mycorrhizal partnership.


Mosses form associations with glomeromycete fungi, or other fungi in their thallus.


http://bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/Mycology/Pla鈥?/a>