Question

Mycorrhizae helps in _________

• A. Water movement
• B. Transpirations
• C. Nitrogen
• D. Respiration

Hint:

In nursery management, inoculating seedlings with specific ectomycorrhizae or endomycorrhizae strains dramatically improves their field survival rates by helping them manage water stress after transplanting.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Mycorrhizae represent a mutualistic, symbiotic association between specialized soil fungi and the roots of vascular plants.
This association is crucial for the health and survival of forest trees, particularly in nutrient-poor and drought-prone soils.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The vegetative body of mycorrhizal fungi consists of an extensive, microscopic network of thread-like hyphae.
These hyphae extend into the soil matrix far beyond the physical reach of the tree's root hairs, greatly increasing the functional surface area for absorption.
While their primary role in facilitating phosphorus uptake is widely recognized, mycorrhizae also play a critical role in facilitating soil-to-root water movement.
The fungal hyphae penetrate extremely small soil pores, absorbing water and transporting it back to the host plant's roots. This helps forest trees maintain hydraulic connectivity and withstand drought stress.
Let us review the other options:
- They do not directly assist in transpiration, which is a physiological process regulated by the plant's stomata.
- They do not fix atmospheric nitrogen (this is done by diazotrophic bacteria like *Rhizobium* or *Frankia*).
- They do not directly facilitate plant root respiration.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Hence, mycorrhizae play a key role in water movement, corresponding to option (A).