The Roles of Arbuscular Mycorrihizas in Plant and Soil Health

Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... 142

References ................................................................................................................................... 142

Plant species whether in natural ecosystems or in agroecosystems function under the

influence of other organisms, particularly soil microorganisms. The roots of plants are

inhabited by myriad soil microorganisms that live in parasitic, pathogenic, saprophytic,

and/or mutualistic relationships with them. Among the mutualistic associations that

plants form with soil microorganisms, giving benefit to both species, the most widespread

geographically and botanically are mycorrhizas.