Mention five types of endomycorrhizas and differentiate between endomycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal association, giving the advantages of each.

As the name suggests (endomycorrhizas), endo means inside. Therefore, the location of the fungal hyphae which can relate to the root tissues of the plant is inside it. Endomycorrhizas can be classified into two major and two minor groups. Examples of endomycorrhizas emcompasing a larger group are:

Arbuscular Endomycorrhizas (AM): these are the most common mycorrhizas. It is also called ‘VAM’ or ‘VA’ mycorrhizas.

Ericoid Endomycorrhizas: these mycorrhizas present in defferent plants such as Heather, Ling and Bilberry can endure moorelands or they can survive in similar environments. There are two sub groups of endomycorrhizas emcompassing this major group. These mycorrhizas are:

Arbutoid Endomycorrhizas
Monotropoid Endomycorrhizas

Both groups specialize in metabolising polysaccharides and proteins for their carbon content.

Orchidaceous Endomycorrhizas: these are similar to Ericoid, but there is a difference in the way that they support the host plant. Nurturing these host plant with carbon is a more complex and exaustive process.

The advantages of this association is that AM can improve the plant performance even when there is a shortage of water.

Ectomycorrhizal associations, differs from endomycorrhizal ones in the sense that Ectomycorrhizal associations are an advanced symbiotic association between higher plants and fungi. What happens in this association is that the plant root system is absolutely surrounded by a sheath of fungal tissue.

The advantages of this association is that it can establish vegetation and restore habitats.