What is the Difference Between Ectomycorrhizal and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

The key difference between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is that ectomycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that encloses the root cells of the host plants but usually do not penetrate the root cells, while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that penetrate and enter the root cells of host plants.

“Mycorrhiza” refers to a symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants. The fungus usually colonizes the root system of a host plant and increases the absorption capabilities of water and other nutrients of the host plant. The plant provides the carbohydrate to fungus made through photosynthesis. Mycorrhizal fungi also offer protection to host plants from certain microbes. Modern research has found seven types of mycorrhizal fungi. Among them, ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are two major types of mycorrhizal fungi.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Ectomycorrhizal Fungi
3. What are Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
4. Similarities – Ectomycorrhizal and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
5. Ectomycorrhizal vs Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ectomycorrhizal vs Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

What are Ectomycorrhizal Fungi?

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that ensheath the root cells of the host plants but usually do not penetrate the root cells. These fungi are extracellular in nature. Ectomycorrhizal fungi usually survive through mineralizing nutrients from organic matter. It is a form of symbiotic relationship between ectomycorrhizal fungus and the roots of the host plant. The mycobiont is normally from fungi divisions, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, and rarely from the division Zygomycota. Ectomycorrhizal fungi colonize the roots of 2% of plant species, which usually include plant species from birch, dipterocarp, myrtle, beech, willow, pine, and rose families.

Unlike endomycorrhizal fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi do not penetrate their host plant’s cell wall. Instead, these fungi form an entirely intercellular interface known as the Hartig net. Hartig net consists of highly branched hyphae, forming a latticework between epidermal and cortical root cells of the host plant. Moreover, ectomycorrhizal fungi are found throughout boreal, temperate, and tropical ecosystems. They are primarily found among the dominant woody plant, producing families. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are very specific in nature when selecting their hosts. The competition among ectomycorrhizal fungi is a well-documented phenomenon of soil microbial interactions. Furthermore, ectomycorrhiza fungi have been found to play beneficial roles in polluted environments. Therefore, they are involved in phytoremediation.

What are Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi?

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are a type of endomycorrhizal fungi. These fungi penetrate and enter the root cells of host plants. They are also intracellular. In an arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiont fungus penetrates the cortical cells of the roots of a vascular plant and form arbuscles. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are typically a type of mycorrhizal fungi that survive through scavenging nutrients released by saprotrophic microbes.

Arbuscular mycorrhizae are characterized by the formation of unique structures called arbuscles and vesicles by fungi belong to divisions Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota. The hosts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi include clubmosses, horsetails, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Moreover, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi help plants to capture nutrients such as phosphorous, sulphur, nitrogen, and other micronutrients from the soil. In return, these fungi depend on plants for their carbon metabolism. Furthermore, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi also can be used for the purpose of phytoremediation.

What are the Similarities Between Ectomycorrhizal and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi?

• Ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are two types of mycorrhizal fungi.
• Both types of fungi belong to kingdom fungi and subkingdom dikaryon.
• They help plants to take in phosphorous and nitrogen from soils.
• Both fungi take carbohydrates from plants made through photosynthesis.
• They can be used in phytoremediation.

What is the Difference Between Ectomycorrhizal and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi?

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that ensheath the root cells of the host plants but usually do not penetrate the root cells, while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that penetrate and enter the root cells of host plants. Thus, this is the key difference between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, ectomycorrhizal mycorrhizal fungi are highly specific in selecting host plants, while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are less specific in selecting host plants.

The below infographic presents the differences between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Ectomycorrhizal vs Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are two types of mycorrhizal fungi. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that ensheath the root cells of the host plants but usually do not penetrate the root cells. On the other hand, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that penetrate and enter the root cells of host plants. So, this is the key difference between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Reference:

1. Anderson, Ian C., and John W.G. Cairney. “Ectomycorrhizal Fungi: Exploring the Mycelial Frontier.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 1 July 2007.
2. “Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Tiny Friends with Big Impact.” Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Tiny Friends with Big Impact | Turfgrass Science.

Image Courtesy:

1. “03 02 10 c 5b ectomycorrhiza anatomy, Basidiomycota (M. Piepenbring)” By M. Piepenbring – M. Piepenbring, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Impacts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and beneficial bacteria on plant performance and soil fertility” from Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Associated Microbiota as Plant Biostimulants: Research Strategies for the Selection of the Best Performing Inocula (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia