Arbuscular mycorrhiza

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a friendship between plant roots and tiny living things called fungi. The roots and fungi work together in a special way to help each other grow and stay healthy.

The fungi are so small that you can't see them with your eyes, but they are very important because they help the roots get the food and water they need. The fungi grow into the plant roots and create a special space called an arbuscule where they share nutrients with the plant. The fungi also grow long thread-like structures called hyphae that can explore the soil and help the roots find more nutrients.

In return, the plant provides the fungi with food in the form of sugars, which the fungi need to survive. The plant also helps the fungi spread and grow by forming special structures called spores that are filled with fungi. The spores can be set free to travel around and find new plant roots to form a friendship with.

This friendship between plant roots and fungi is very important because it helps both the plants and the fungi grow better together. The plants can get more food and water, which makes them healthier and stronger, while the fungi can spread and grow more easily, which means they can help more plants.

So, think of arbuscular mycorrhiza as a special friendship between plants and tiny living things that helps them both grow better and stay healthy!