NCERT-NEET-A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association of a fungus with a root system.

Aspect	Details
Symbiotic Association	Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant roots.
Fungal Role in Mycorrhiza	The fungal filaments either form a network around young roots or penetrate root cells, significantly increasing the surface area for absorbing water and minerals.
Plant Benefits	Plants receive minerals (like phosphorus) and water from the fungus. Additionally, they gain resistance to root-borne pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought, and improved growth.
Fungal Benefits	The fungus receives sugars and nitrogen-containing compounds from the plant.
Obligate Association Example	Some plants, like Pinus, have an obligate relationship with mycorrhiza, essential for their seed germination and establishment.
Examples of Fungal Genera	Many members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhiza, aiding in phosphorus absorption from the soil.

Assertion	Reason	Answer (True/False)
Mycorrhiza increases the surface area available for water and mineral absorption.	The fungal hyphae have a very large surface area, allowing absorption from a much larger volume of soil.	True
Some plants, like Pinus, require mycorrhizae to germinate and establish.	Pinus seeds have an obligate association with mycorrhizae, essential for their germination.	True
Fungi in mycorrhiza absorb phosphorus and transfer it to the plant.	Members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhizae that absorb phosphorus from the soil and pass it to the plant.	True
Mycorrhizae confer additional benefits to plants beyond nutrient absorption.	Plants with mycorrhizae show resistance to pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought, and increased growth.	True

Aspect/Assertion	Details/Reason	Answer (True/False)
Symbiotic Association	Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and plant roots.	True
Fungal Role in Mycorrhiza	The fungal filaments either form a network around the root or penetrate the root cells.	True
Increased Surface Area for Absorption	Mycorrhiza increases the surface area available for water and mineral absorption.	True
Mechanism	The fungal hyphae have a very large surface area, allowing absorption from a much larger volume of soil.	True
Obligate Association Example	Some plants, like Pinus, require mycorrhizae to germinate and establish.	True
Specific Association	Pinus seeds have an obligate association with mycorrhizae, essential for their germination.	True
Phosphorus Absorption and Transfer	Fungi in mycorrhiza absorb phosphorus and transfer it to the plant.	True
Fungal Genera Example	Members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhizae that absorb phosphorus from the soil and pass it to the plant.	True
Additional Plant Benefits	Mycorrhizae confer additional benefits to plants beyond nutrient absorption.	True
Enhanced Resistance and Tolerance	Plants with mycorrhizae show resistance to pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought, and increased growth.	True
Fungal Benefits	The fungus receives sugars and nitrogen-containing compounds from the plant.	True

Aspect	Details
Evolution of Mycorrhiza	The mycorrhizal symbiosis is arguably the most important symbiosis on earth. Fossil records indicate that arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions evolved 400 to 450 million years ago and played a critical role in the colonization of land by plants.
Prevalence	Approximately 80% of all known land plant species form mycorrhizal interactions with ubiquitous soil fungi.
Mutually Beneficial Interaction	The majority of mycorrhizal interactions are mutually beneficial, characterized by a bidirectional exchange of resources across the mycorrhizal interface.
Nutrient Exchange	The mycorrhizal fungus provides the host plant with nutrients such as phosphate and nitrogen, while the plant transfers 4-20% of its photosynthetically fixed carbon to the fungus.
Stress Resistance	Mycorrhizal interactions increase the abiotic (drought, salinity, heavy metals) and biotic (root pathogens) stress resistance of the host plant.
Mycoheterotrophic Plants	Some mycoheterotrophic plants, which have lost their photosynthetic capabilities, rely on mycorrhizal fungi for their carbon supply, parasitizing fungi associated with neighboring autotrophic plants.
Mycoheterotrophic in Diverse Plant Families	Approximately 400 plant species from different plant families, such as bryophytes, pteridophytes, and angiosperms, exhibit mycoheterotrophy.