noun
- a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a plant, in which the fungus helps the plant absorb water and nutrients from the soil
Usage: biology, botany; plural: mycorrhizae or mycorrhizas
Examples
- The mycorrhiza allows trees to access nutrients deep in the soil that their roots alone cannot reach.
- Many plants depend on mycorrhiza to survive in nutrient-poor environments.
- Fungi form a mycorrhiza with plant roots, receiving sugars in exchange for mineral absorption.
- Scientists study mycorrhiza to understand how forests maintain their health and productivity.
- The mycorrhiza relationship is one of the most important symbioses in terrestrial ecosystems.