Which of the following best explains how mycorrhizal fungi are more efficient than plants at acquiring mineral nutrition from the soil?
A) Hyphae are 100 to 1,000 times larger than plant roots.
B) Hyphae have a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio than do the hairs on a plant root.
C) Mycelia are able to grow in the direction of food.
D) Fungi secrete extracellular enzymes that can break down large molecules.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mycorrhizal fungi secrete extracellular enzymes that break down large molecules in the soil into smaller, absorbable nutrients, making them more efficient at acquiring mineral nutrition than plants. This ability allows them to access and absorb nutrients that are otherwise unavailable to plants.

Which of the Following Best Explains How Mycorrhizal Fungi Are