What is myco-heterotrophy?
Q: What is myco-heterotrophy?
A: Myco-heterotrophy is a relationship between certain plants and fungi, where the plant gets all or part of its food from parasitism on fungi, not from photosynthesis.
Q: What were non-photosynthetic plants thought to do in the past?
A: In the past, non-photosynthetic plants were thought to get food by breaking down organic matter like fungi do, and were therefore called "saprophytes".
Q: Was the previous understanding of non-photosynthetic plants accurate?
A: No, it is now known that no plant is physiologically capable of direct breakdown of organic matter.
Q: How do non-photosynthetic plants get food?
A: To get food, non-photosynthetic plants engage in parasitism, by myco-heterotrophy or direct parasitism of other plants.
Q: Where is the interface between the plant and fungal partners in myco-heterotrophy?
A: The interface between the plant and fungal partners in myco-heterotrophy is between the roots of the plant and the mycelium of the fungus.
Q: What does myco-heterotrophy closely resemble?
A: Myco-heterotrophy closely resembles mycorrhiza.
Q: What is the belief about how myco-heterotrophy evolved?
A: Myco-heterotrophy is thought to have evolved from mycorrhiza.
