The mutualistic partnership between plant roots and microbes is known as?

The mutualistic partnership between plant roots and microbes is known as mycorrhizae. This relationship specifically involves fungi that associate with plant roots, enhancing nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus, and improving water absorption for the plant. In return, the plant supplies the fungi with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis, creating a beneficial exchange for both parties.

Mycorrhizal associations are crucial for the health of many terrestrial ecosystems, facilitating plant growth and ensuring nutrient availability in the soil. This partnership highlights the complex interactions within ecosystems where species cooperate for mutual benefit.

While terms like rhizobia refer to specific bacteria that fix nitrogen in association with legumes, and symbiosis is a broader term encompassing various types of interactions (including both mutualistic and parasitic relationships), mycorrhizae specifically describes the beneficial interaction between fungi and plant roots. Commensalism refers to a relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, which does not apply in this context since mycorrhizae represent a mutually beneficial relationship.