Glomeromycota
From Freepedia
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The Division Glomeromycota is a taxon within the kingdom Fungi that includes those species that form arbuscular mycorrhizae with plants. Originally placed in the order Glomales of division Zygomycota, these fungi were elevated to their own division in 2002 by Walker and Schüßler.
Glomeromycota are characterized by the formation of dichotomously-branching arbuscules in the roots of angiosperms, in an obligate symbiotic relationship known as a mycorrhiza (pl. mycorrhizae or mycorrhizas). Arbuscules serve as the site of nutrient exchange between the plant host and the fungus. Some species may also form balloon-like structures known as vesicles within host roots. The structures are thought to be for storage of fungal metabolites.
All species in the division are known to reproduce asexually by the formation of blastospores. Blastospore development and morphology are used to separate groups within the Division.
References and External Links
- Glomeromycota at the Tree of Life Web Project
- Glomeromycota at the International Culture Collection of VA Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM)
- Glomeromycota at the University of Sydney Fungal Biology site
