General Science • BiologyHard
What is the primary ecological role of mycorrhizal fungi forming symbiotic associations with vascular plant roots?
A. Fixing atmospheric nitrogen directly into nitrates for the plant
B. Enhancing the absorption of water and immobile soil nutrients like phosphorus✓ Correct Answer
C. Parasitizing plant sugars without providing any reciprocal benefit
D. Converting cellulose into simple sugars within the leaf mesophyll
💡 Solution & Explanation
Mycorrhizal fungi establish mutualistic associations with plant roots where the fungal hyphae vastly increase the effective surface area for absorbing water and poorly mobile nutrients like phosphorus from the soil. In return, the host plant supplies the fungus with photosynthetic carbon compounds and sugars. Nitrogen fixation is primarily performed by rhizobia bacteria rather than mycorrhizae.
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