ECTOMYCORRIZHAE & THEIR IMPORTANCE IN FOREST ECOSYSTEM

GROUP MEMBERS Farah Munirah Lee May Ying Nur Athirah Nasha Allysha Nor Zawani

DEFINITION Fungi that remain extracellular, forming a sheath of hyphae around the root. How it is differences with endomychorrizae ? In endomychorrizae, do not form sheath around the root, the fungi penetrates the cortical cell

FUNGI INVOLVED Basidiomycetes (those with fruiting bodies) Toadstools The simplest way to make ‘’ectomycorrhizae’’ [Blend with water, then spray or apply it to the plant roots. This will help the development & growth of the plant]

CHARACTERISTICS 90% of trees or plants are colonized by these fungi (most common mycorrhizae found) defined by the presence of a Hartig net, confirmed by microscopic examination of cleared or sectioned roots ECM roots have a modified lateral root branching pattern, consists of short mycorhizal lateral roots (called short roots) supported by a network of long roots.

Example of ECM short roots (arrows) of birch (Betula alleghaniensis), an angiosperm tree.

The fungi increase the surface area of roots from 100 to a 1,000 times, thereby greatly improving the ability of the plant to access soil resources.  Also release powerful enzymes into the soil that dissolve hard-to-capture nutrients, such as organic nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and other "tightly bound" soil nutrients. 

Facilitate nutrients uptake and transfer Nutrients (N and P) are transferred to roots In exchange, carbohydrates are transfer to fungus

STRUCTURAL FEATURES In the course of the plant-fungus interaction, aggregation of fungal hyphae results in production of rhizomorphs and production of a meshwork of hyphae forming a Hartig net

Hyphae Hartig net

EFFECTS TO PLANT WITHOUT MYCHORRHIZAE Retardation/slow growth of plant Low mineralization rate of nutrient Low resistance towars plant disease

LIST OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PLANTS THAT ENDO/ECTOMYCHORRHIZAE FORM WITH Ectomycorrhizae forming plants Endomycorrhizae forming plants Chestnut Hazelnut Pine Spruce Walnut … Coffee Coconut Peanut Pear Peppers Yam Banana

Importance of ECM in Forest Ecosystem To Summarize, the……. Importance of ECM in Forest Ecosystem Increase plant resistance towards plant disease. Increase water uptake ability of plant root. Increase the nutrient uptake by plant. Can also improve growth of plant begin from the seedling stage (applied in reforestation).