12/10/2021
The above-ground part of the mushroom is called the fruiting body, while the root system of the mushroom is called the mycelium. Composed of a dense mass of fine, thread-like filaments of tissue called hyphae, the mycelium is an essential part of the life support system for the fungus and the over all ecosystem as they form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, improving their ability to utilize the soils resources and communicate about potential threats.
Mycorrhizal relationships are between a root and a fungus and together these form a symbiotic relationship. This is a relationship that is beneficial to both parties. Since the fungus lives in the in the ground, in the dark, it cannot photosynthesize, so it has to get its food from other sources.
So the mycorrhizal fungi go looking for a partner, or thousands of partners. They go up to a root tip and give it a chemical signal to let it know it is there and available, and “would you like my help?” The root then may respond, with a chemical signal, “yes, I would.” And it will soften its tissue and allow the fungal hyphae in amongst its root cells. The hyphae are like long, very thin filaments. After taking up residence in the plant root the filaments grow outward in search of the minerals and water the plant needs. In exchange, the symbiosis part, the plant gives the fungus a variety of sugars to build its body structure.
The fungi can reach out and do a much more efficient and thorough job of extracting water from the soil, helping to increase drought tolerance in plants. And they can hunt. They can invade the bodies of soil dwelling insects, suck them dry and send all the nutrients back to the host plant in forms that are usable to the plant.
The fungal hyphae seem to be paving the way towards better soil texture, as well as feeding their host plant. They exude a compound called gomalin, which is a sticky substance that surrounds soil particles which improves soil texture and aeration.
In a pinch of soil there can be several miles of fungal hyphae. In the forest there is so much connectivity between mycorrhizal fungi and their trees that it may well be that they are all connected and there seems to be good evidence that there is a level of communication between trees and across species
Studies have shown that mycorrhizal root systems increase the absorptive area of roots 10 to 1000 times, thereby greatly improving the ability of the plants to utilize the soil resources.
We talk to our plants, but now we know that Plants Talk to Each Other Through Mycorrhizae, warning each other when they have been attacked by insects like aphids!
read more
https://www.theunion.com/entertainment/activities-and-events/mycorrhizae-root-fungus-partnership/
SOIL MICROBIOME http://b4fa.org/soil-microbiome-research-practice/
