Index >> Soil Microbiology >>Major Types of Beneficial Interactions Associations Between Plants and Soil Microorganisms

Nature of interactions/associations

Examples of higher plants involved

Example of microorganisms involved

Rhizosphere, Rhizoplane and phyllosphere microflora

All plants with roots and leaves

Bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes

Ectomycorrhizae

Forest trees―Pinus

Mostly basidiomycetous fungi―Boletus, Lactarius, Armillaria

Endomycorrhizae (AM fungal association)

Certain orchids, cereals, grasses and legumes

Rhizoctonia, Endogone and Glomus

Root nodules of nodulating legumes

Soybean, gram, Lucerne etc.

Rhizobium spp.

Root nodules of plants other than legumes

Alnus, Myrica, Casuarina

Actinomycetous endophytes (Frankia)

Leaf nodules

Psychotria, Pavetta

Klebsiella

Algal associations with higher plants

Cycas, Zamia, Heterozamia, Gunnera scabra, Azolla

Anabaena, Nostoc

Associative symbiosis

Grasses, sorghum and millets

Azospirillum