Mycorrhiza and Lichens as Two Models of Fungal Symbiosis

Abstract

Fungi have evolved many symbioses including different eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Mutualism is one of the symbioses and here both symbionts benefit from the interaction. The most common mutualistic relationships involving fungi are mycorrhiza and lichens. A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic relationship between a roots of a plant and a fungus while lichen associates between a fungus and an algae. Many studies have performed to investigate these symbiotic relationships in depth, however, still have some debates on them, though many taxonomists rely on genetic analyses besides with traditional morphological data. In our study, it highlights the nature, importance, nutritional and pharmaceutical uses, and applications of these mysterious dual between fungi and plant and/or algae.

Mushrooms and Lichens the Factory of Important Secondary Metabolites: Review

“…Lichens are unique structures formed by an association between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria, by developing a unique morphological form that is separate from either component organism [34][35][36]. They have been used by humans for centuries as food and as a source of dye, and for their therapeutic properties in traditional medicine [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. In this often-mutualistic relationship, the fungus and the algae are referred as mycobiont and the phycobiont [45], respectively.…”

“…This symbiosis results in the production of unique secondary metabolites known as lichen substances, which arise within the thalli and are typically in crystal form on the surface of the fungal hyphae. Recently, lichens and their secondary metabolites have been receiving increased attention due to their nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential [42,43].…”

Effect of AMF propagule dosage forms on the growth and production of Amaranthus tricolor L.

“…Mycorrhizae are organisms from a group of fungi that form a symbiotic relationship of mutualism between fungi and plant roots [15,16]. Mycorrhizae have great potential as biological fertilizers because mycorrhizae are microorganisms that have a very important role for plants, namely facilitating the absorption of nutrients in the soil to increase plant growth [13,14], as a biological barrier against root pathogen infection [17,18], increasing water availability for plants [19], and increasing production growth hormones such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins for their host plants [20,21].…”