Index >> Mycorrhizae >> Absorption of Nutrients

The pattern of movement of ions has been investigated in ectomycorrhizae of Fagus sylvatica. The mycorrhizal association of this large rooted species can easily be distinguished into an outer fungal sheath and an inner host core. The host core consists of the Hartig net of the fungus between cells of the host. Experiments done by Harley and his associates in England with excised mycorrhizal roots have shown that 80-90% of the absorbed phosphate remains accumulated in the fungal sheath whereas experiments done by Melin and Nilsson in Sweden with intact as well decapitated plants have, however, shown that accumulation of phosphate in the sheath is variable depending on the rates of transpiration since decapitated plants accumulated more of phosphates in the sheath the intact ones. It is likely that the sheath acts as a phosphate reservoir and releases the nutrient during certain deficiency conditions while under normal conditions, a steady uptake of phosphate to the plants is maintained by the fungal hyphae.