- 27 Fungi Often Play An Extremely Important Mutualistic Role For Some Types Of Trees The Fungi Have A Root System Known 1 (54.22 KiB) Viewed 22 times
- 27 Fungi Often Play An Extremely Important Mutualistic Role For Some Types Of Trees The Fungi Have A Root System Known 2 (54.22 KiB) Viewed 22 times
27. Fungi often play an extremely important mutualistic role for some types of trees. The fungi have a root system known as mycorrhizae. The mycorrhizae have beneficial effects on the trees that they live around. The mycorrhizae decompose organic material producing nitrogen, increase the absorption capabilities of the tree, reduce the susceptibility of the roots to invasion by pathogens, and secrete antibiotics that help the tree grow and stay healthy. The tree supplies the fungi with carbohydrates from the roots as a food source. The relationship is not even this simple. In most forms of mutualism there are two organisms within a relationship that benefit each other. In this case there is another organism that is required to make an interesting circle complete. Examine the diagram below and answer the question that follows. Rootlet with mycomide Fecal pellets (droppings with spores Trulle fruiting body of mycorrhizae Red black volo As you have read the role between the mycorrhizae and the tree is mutualistic. Explain the essential role of the red-black vole in this three-way relationship. Be sure to explain the type of relationship that the vole has with the mycorrhizae and the tree.