Which of the following statements is/are incorrect about mycorrhiza?
i) Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic association of algae and fungi.
ii) Members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhiza.
iii) Plants having mycorrhizal associations show benefits like resistance to root-borne pathogens, salinity tolerance and drought resistance etc.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → i
Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a plant. The fungus absorbs phosphorus from the soil and passes it to the plant, and the plant gets other benefits too. An association of an alga with a fungus is a lichen, not a mycorrhiza.
i) Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic association of algae and fungi. — Incorrect statement. Fungi form mycorrhiza with plants, not with algae.
ii) Members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhiza. — Correct statement. Many members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhiza.
iii) Plants having mycorrhizal associations show benefits like resistance to root-borne pathogens, salinity tolerance and drought resistance etc. — Correct statement. NCERT lists resistance to root-borne pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought, and better growth of the plant as benefits.
Only statement i is incorrect.
NCERT Extract:
Microbes as Biofertilisers – “Fungi are also known to form symbiotic associations with plants (mycorrhiza). Many members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhiza. The fungal symbiont in these associations absorbs phosphorus from soil and passes it to the plant. Plants having such associations show other benefits also, such as resistance to root-borne pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought, and an overall increase in plant growth and development.”