Ectomycorrhiza

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, showing root tips with fungal mycelium from the genus Amanita

An ectomycorrhiza (from Greek ἐκτός ektos, "outside", μύκης mykes, "fungus", and ῥίζα rhiza, "root"; pl. ectomycorrhizas or ectomycorrhizae, abbreviated EcM) is a form of symbiotic relationship that occurs between a fungal symbiont, or mycobiont, and the roots of various plant species. The mycobiont is often from the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, and more rarely from the Zygomycota.[1] Ectomycorrhizas form on the roots of around 2% of plant species,[1] usually woody plants, including species from the birch, dipterocarp, myrtle, beech, willow, pine and rose families.[2] Research on ectomycorrhizas is increasingly important in areas such as ecosystem management and restoration, forestry and agriculture.

Unlike other mycorrhizal relationships, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza and ericoid mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhizal fungi do not penetrate their host's cell walls. Instead they form an entirely intercellular interface known as the Hartig net, consisting of highly branched hyphae forming a latticework between epidermal and cortical root cells.

Ectomycorrhizas are further differentiated from other mycorrhizas by the formation of a dense hyphal sheath, known as the mantle, surrounding the root surface.[3] This sheathing mantle can be up to 40 μm thick, with hyphae extending up to several centimeters into the surrounding soil. The hyphal network helps the plant to take up nutrients including water and minerals, often helping the host plant to survive adverse conditions.[2] In exchange, the fungal symbiont is provided with access to carbohydrates.

Although samples of ectomycorrhizas are usually taken from the surface horizon due to higher root density, ectomycorrhizas are known to occur in deep tree roots (a depth more than 2 meters), some occurring at least as deep as 4 meters.[4]

Well known EcM fungal fruiting bodies include the economically important and edible truffle (Tuber) and the deadly death caps and destroying angels (Amanita).

  1. ^ a b Tedersoo, Leho; May, Tom W.; Smith, Matthew E. (2010). "Ectomycorrhizal lifestyle in fungi: global diversity, distribution, and evolution of phylogenetic lineages" (PDF). Mycorrhiza. 20 (4): 217–263. doi:10.1007/s00572-009-0274-x. PMID 20191371. S2CID 3351967. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Sally E.; Read, David J. (26 July 2010). Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-08-055934-6.
  3. ^ Hock, Bertold (2012). Fungal Associations. Springer. ISBN 978-3-642-30826-0.
  4. ^ Robin, Agnès; Pradier, Céline; Sanguin, Hervé (16 November 2019). "How deep can ectomycorrhizas go? A case study on Pisolithus down to 4 meters in a Brazilian eucalypt plantation". Mycorrhiza. 29 (6): 637–648. doi:10.1007/s00572-019-00917-y. PMID 31732817. S2CID 208042529. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.