Planet
Earth Online 01/6/2013
Duncan
Cameron of the University of Sheffield explains the symbiotic relationship
between cider apple trees and fungi in the soil to Planet Earth
online the website of the Natural Environment Research Council.
“That's
exactly what we're doing. So 80% to 90% of all plant species that
have ever lived form a symbiosis, a kind of mutualistic partnership
with fungus in the soil and what happens is the tree will fix carbon
dioxide through photosynthesis and it turns this into sugar which
it moves to its roots and it gives this sugar to the mycorrhizal
fungus - this is the fungal symbiont. And what the fungus does is
that it grows out into the soil and it can explore a much bigger
volume of the soil than the plant roots and it can get hold of nutrients
and it transports these back to the plant in return for the sugar
that the plant is providing it with. So it's what we call a mutualistic
symbiosis where both partners are benefiting.”
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