The key difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae is that the fungal hyphae do not penetrate into the cortical cells of the plant roots in ectomycorrhizae while the fungal hyphae penetrate into the cortical cells of the plant roots in endomycorrhizae.
Mycorrhizae is an important symbiotic relationship that occurs between fungi and roots of higher plants. Both fungi and plants receive benefits from this association. Fungal hyphae penetrate into the soil and bring nutrients to the plants while plants also provide benefits to the fungi. Hence, it is an ecologically important relationship. Most importantly, fungal hyphae may grow several meters and transport water and nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium to the roots. Moreover, the mycorrhizal association protects the plant from root pathogens. Hence, symptoms of nutrient deficiency are less likely to occur in plants which are in these symbiotic associations. There are two types of mycorrhizae as ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Ectomycorrhizae
3. What are Endomycorrhizae
4. Similarities Between Ectomycorrhizae and Endomycorrhizae
5. Side by Side Comparison – Ectomycorrhizae vs Endomycorrhizae in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What are Ectomycorrhizae?
Ectomycorrhizae are a type of mycorrhizal association that occurs between fungi and roots of the higher plants. The specialty of the ectomycorrhizae lies in the formation of a hyphae mantle. Ectomycorrhizae do not form arbuscules and vesicles. Moreover, the hyphae do not penetrate into the cortical cells of the plant root. However, ectomycorrhizae are really important since they help plants to explore nutrients in the soil.
Figure 01: Ectomycorrhizae
Furthermore, this association protects plant roots from root pathogens. Most of the ectomycorrhizal fungi belong to Basidiomycota while some belong to Ascomycota.
What are Endomycorrhizae?
Endomycorrhizae are the common type of mycorrhizal association seen in higher plants. In endomycorrhizae, fungal hyphae penetrate into the cortical cells of the plant roots and form vesicles and arbuscules. They do not produce a hyphae mantle, unlike ectomycorrhizae. Orchids are the best-known endomycorrhizae. Orchids totally depend on the endomycorrhizal association for their survival.
Figure 02: Endomycorrhizae
Most fungi that form endomycorrhizal association belong to the phylum Glomeromycota. About 85% of vascular plants possess endomycorrhizal associations.
What are the Similarities Between Ectomycorrhizae and Endomycorrhizae?
- Ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae are two types of symbiotic associations between plants and fungi.
- Mycorrhizal associations help host plants to thrive in adverse soil conditions and drought situations by increasing the root surface and mineral uptake efficiency.
- Besides, both associations do not harm the plants.
What is the Difference Between Ectomycorrhizae and Endomycorrhizae?
Ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae are two types of mycorrhizae. Fungal hyphae of ectomycorrhizae do not penetrate into the cortical cells of the plant root while fungal hyphae of endomycorrhizae penetrate inside the cortical cells of the plants. Therefore, this is the key difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae. Furthermore, ectomycorrhizae are less common while endomycorrhizae occur in more than 85% of vascular plants. Hence, this is also a difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae.
Moreover, a further difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae is that ectomycorrhizae form a hyphae mantle while endomycorrhizae do not produce a hyphae mantle. Additionally, endomycorrhizae form vesicles and arbuscules. But, ectomycorrhizae do not form vesicles and arbuscules. Therefore, this is a significant difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae.
Summary – Ectomycorrhizae vs Endomycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae is one of the important symbiotic relationships that occur between plant and fungi. Ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae are two types of mycorrhizae. Ectomycorrhizae characteristically form a hyphae mantle and hartig net. The fungal hyphae do not penetrate inside the cortical cells of the plant roots. On the other hand, endomycorrhizae do not produce a hyphae mantle. They form vesicles and arbuscules. Moreover, their hyphae penetrate inside the cortical cells of the plant roots. Ectomycorrhizae can be seen in pine trees while endomycorrhizae are found in orchids. Thus, this is the difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae.
Reference:
1. “Ectomycorrhizal vs Endomycorrhizal Fungi | Microbiology.” Biology Discussion, 30 Aug. 2016, Available here.
2. “Ectomycorrhiza.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Apr. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “endomycorrhizae (b+c)” By stellarr (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Ectomycorrhizae002” By B. Zak – (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia