Potential of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Ecosystem: a Review

Mycorrhiza is a mutualistic symbiosis between plants and fungi localized in roots or root like structures in which energy moves primarily from plants to fungi and inorganic resources move from fungi to plants. Mycorrhizal fungi may play important roles in nature. Findings of many researches are helpful in understanding the role of mycorrhizal fungi in the structure and functioning of ecosystems. In this review article, the following aspects of mycorrhizal fungi research have been found as an important part of ecosystems, mycorrhizal fungi consume a great deal of photosynthate and are parts of food chains They have a great effect on the biogeochemical cycling .They have an interaction with microbes in the soil and thus may have an influence on the composition of soil microbes. They influence the inter-or intra-specific interactions of plants through having beneficial effects on host plants or connecting different plants with mycorrhizal networks. The magnitude and species composition of mycorrhizal fungi may indicate the changes of an ecosystem and mycorrhizal fungi can also be used in the conservation of natural ecosystems. The focuses of mycorrhizal fungi researches and a brief perspective have also discussed in this review. © 2011 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved