What Are Mycorrhizae?
"Myco" – "rhiza" literally means "fungus" – "root" and describes the mutually beneficial relationship between the plant and root fungus. These specialized fungi colonize plant roots and extend far into the soil. Mycorrhizal fungal filaments in the soil are truly extensions of root systems and are more effective in nutrient and water absorption than the roots themselves.
Research estimates that more than 95 percent of terrestrial plant species form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi — a partnership that evolved over several hundred million years and preceded the colonization of dry land by plants.
Why Do They Matter?
The fungal filaments produced by mycorrhizal fungi extend far beyond what a root system alone could reach — increasing a plant's effective absorbing surface area by 100 to 1,000 times. Several miles of these fine filaments can exist in a single thimbleful of healthy soil.
Beyond physical reach, mycorrhizal fungi release organic compounds that break down nutrients locked up in soil particles — including nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron that standard fertilization cannot efficiently deliver. This is a primary reason why plants growing in biologically active, mycorrhizal-rich soil require significantly less synthetic fertilizer to thrive.
The fungal network also captures and redistributes nutrients within the soil, reducing leaching and improving overall soil fertility over time. Benefits extend to drought tolerance, transplant success, and resistance to soil-borne stressors.
Why Reintroduce Them?
Natural, undisturbed soils are rich in mycorrhizal fungi — but modern growing practices routinely destroy these populations. Tillage, topsoil removal, compaction, fumigation, and extended fallow periods all reduce or eliminate the mycorrhizal fungi that plants depend on.
Endo mycorrhizal populations in particular are slow to recover on their own. Without nearby natural areas as a source of spores, treated soils can remain biologically depleted for years. Reintroducing mycorrhizal inoculants at planting bridges that gap — giving plants immediate access to a functional fungal network rather than waiting for natural recolonization that may never fully occur.
The result is measurably better establishment, reduced water and fertilizer inputs, and stronger plant performance — outcomes that compound across every growing season.