Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to
- 1. resist drought and increase absorptive area
- 2. tolerate extremes of pH
- 3. resist disease infestation
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. The fungal hyphae extend far into the soil, vastly increasing the surface area for absorption of water and nutrients (particularly phosphorus and nitrogen) beyond what the plant’s root hairs can reach. This enhanced absorption capacity helps plants cope with drought stress. Mycorrhizae can also modify the rhizosphere environment and interact with soil microbes, improving plant tolerance to soil acidity/alkalinity and heavy metals, and enhancing resistance to root pathogens.