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Arbuscular mycorrhiza
Symbiotic penetrative association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) (plural mycorrhizae) is a type of mycorrhiza in which the symbiont fungus (AM fungi, or AMF) penetrates the cortical cells of the roots of a vascular plant forming arbuscules. Arbuscular mycorrhiza is a type of endomycorrhiza along with ericoid mycorrhiza and orchid mycorrhiza (not to be confused with ectomycorrhiza). They are characterized by the formation of unique tree-like structures, the arbuscules.[1] In addition, globular storage structures called vesicles are often encountered.
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![Bilayered glomoid spore of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the root of Horse Gram](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Vesicular_Arbuscular_Mycorrhizae_40X0031_07.jpg/640px-Vesicular_Arbuscular_Mycorrhizae_40X0031_07.jpg)
Arbuscular mycorrhizae are formed by fungi in the subphylum Glomeromycotina. This subphylum, along with the Mortierellomycotina, and Mucoromycotina, form the phylum Mucoromycota, a sister clade of the more well-known and diverse dikaryan fungi.[2]
AM fungi help plants to capture nutrients such as phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen and micronutrients from the soil. It is believed that the development of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis played a crucial role in the initial colonisation of land by plants and in the evolution of the vascular plants.[3] It has been said that it is quicker to list the plants that do not form endomycorrhizae than those that do.[4] This symbiosis is a highly evolved mutualistic relationship found between fungi and plants, the most prevalent plant symbiosis known,[5] and AMF is found in 80% of vascular plant families in existence today.[6]
Previously this type of mycorrhizal associations were called 'Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM)', but since some members of these fungi do not produce any vesicles, such as the members of Gigasporaceae; the term has been changed to 'Arbuscular Mycorrhizae' to include them.[7][8]
Advances in research on mycorrhizal physiology and ecology since the 1970s have led to a greater understanding of the multiple roles of AMF in the ecosystem. An example is the important contribution of the glue-like protein glomalin to soil structure (see below). This knowledge is applicable to human endeavors of ecosystem management, ecosystem restoration, and agriculture.