Arbuscular Mycorrhizae

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic mutualistic associations of different types, which are established between fungi and plant roots. Among these associations, some of the most common symbiosis in nature are the arbuscular mycorrhizae, occurring in almost all soils and in over 90% of plant families on earth. The systematic position of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has evolved recently based on considerations of fossil spores and their relation to extant taxa, such as morphological and physiological studies on actual fungi. There has been considerable interest in arbuscular mycorrhizae in the last decade due to numerous reports on their beneficial effects on plants, ranging from an increase in soil nutrient uptake and improvement in water relations, to plant protection. Moreover, this interest has also been due to the important ecological role of these associations in the species success in natural plant communities.