What is Mycorrhizae?

Mycorrhizae is fungi that has a symbiotic relationship with tree roots. Recently we have been learning how important they are to moisture and nutrient gathering for our trees. There are two basic kinds of mycorrhizae (mike-o-rise-ee): ectotrophic and endotrophic. Trophic relates to nourishment. Ecto relates to outside or external. Endo relates to inside or internal.

Ectotrophic mycorrhizai serve the tree without actually penetrating into the cells of feeding roots. The fine fungi threads (hyphae) form a sheath around the lateral feeding roots.

Endotrophic mycorrhizai hyphae actually penetrate into the cortical cells of the feeding roots. The hyphae do not form sheath but extend into the soil like a web.

Many times you can find and collect the fungi in soil of established trees. Pine trees are the obvious choice. It can be spotted by its white color in the soil. To inoculate your soil, dig core samples from the root area of the established tree and mix it in with your soil.