mycorrhiza

American  

[mahy-kuh-rahy-zuh] / ˌmaɪ kəˈraɪ zə /

Or mycorhiza

noun

Plant Pathology.

mycorrhizae, plural mycorrhizas plural

1. a symbiotic association of the mycelium of a fungus, especially a basidiomycete, with the roots of certain plants, in which the hyphae form a closely woven mass around the rootlets or penetrate the cells of the root.

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mycorrhiza British  

/ ˌmaɪkəˈraɪzə /

noun

1. an association of a fungus and a plant in which the fungus lives within or on the outside of the plant's roots forming a symbiotic or parasitic relationship See ectotrophic mycorrhiza endotrophic mycorrhiza

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mycorrhiza Scientific  

/ mī′kə-rī′zə /

1. The symbiotic association of the mycelium of a fungus with the roots of plants. The majority of vascular plants have mycorrhizae. The fungus assists in the absorption of minerals and water from the soil and defends the roots from other fungi and nematodes, while the plant provides carbohydrates to the fungus. There are two kinds of mycorrhizae: endomycorrhizae, in which the fungal hyphae enter the cells of the root cortex, and ectomycorrhizae, in which they surround the cells.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mycorhizal
  adjective
• mycorrhizal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mycorrhizae
  plural
• mycorrhizas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mycorrhiza

First recorded in 1890–95; myco- + -rrhiza

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mycorrhiza mycorrhizae

"It really changed my perspective towards plants," he said, his expressive face lighting up as he explained mycorrhiza, a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

For centuries, Europeans have hunted truffles with trained dogs, selling the pricey nuggets through a cryptic but robust network of traders that mirrors the underground networks of mycorrhiza.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 1, 2021

And perhaps more important, as plants pull carbon from the air, their roots inject some of it into the soil, feeding microorganisms and fungi called mycorrhiza.

From New York Times ● Apr. 18, 2018

Part A compares two types of mycorrhizae are shown: ectomycorrhiza and arbuscular mycorrhiza.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

In this latter case, which is often realised—e.g. lichens, leguminous plants and the organisms in their root-nodules, mycorrhiza, etc.—we leave the domain of disease, which supervenes indeed if the other symbiont is lacking.

From Disease in Plants by Ward, H. Marshall

Before planting, the researchers coated the chickpea seeds with arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 12, 2026

These ancient relationships, called mycorrhizae, may date back to some of the earliest life on land.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2025

But when scientists dug deeper — literally — they found that the ecosystems are buttressed by an underground partnership between trees and threadlike fungi called mycorrhizae.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 14, 2023

Mycelium and mycorrhizae have become popular symbols on the left: mycorrhizal networks as a symbol for mutual aid because they help plants communicate and collaborate in a “wood wide web.”

From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2023

This type of mycorrhizae is found in forest trees, especially conifers, birches, and oaks.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015