Draw a change under the ground
General ecology · mycorrhizae
Roots have partners
In mycorrhizas, a plant and a fungus form a partnership. The plant supplies organic compounds; the mycelium associated with the roots helps obtain water and nutrients. Oaks, chestnuts and pines can take part in these relationships. A nearby tree gives an observation context, but does not reveal a mushroom’s identity on its own. Researcher Susana Gonçalves also distinguishes ectomycorrhizas: in these associations, the fungus surrounds the root tips. This example shows that there are different kinds of relationships between plants and fungi, beyond the visible appearance of mushrooms. The partnership extends the area from which the plant can obtain resources: its roots connect with the fungal network. But the participants are not always the same. Some fungi can associate with several plants, while others have very specific partners. Knowing the trees in a place therefore helps us understand the environment without replacing identification of the fungus.
Vamos experimentar?
- Draws a plant with roots and a network of hyphae next to them.
- Draw an arrow from the plant to the fungus, with the legend organic compounds.
- Draw another in the direction of the plant, with water and nutrients; compare the scheme with the photographs, which show only the mushrooms.
General representation of a mycorriza, without stating which partnership is present in the local photographs.
Open a história e os seus recursos →Sources of this proposal
- Silvestrian Resource Competence Centre — General MycologyConsultation/revision: 2026-11-08
- Gulbenkian Garden — ecology of fungi, with Susana Gonçalves (17/04/2023)Consultation/revision: 2026-11-07
My findings
An idea, a drawing or a question to go on.