an association of a fungus and a plant in which the fungus lives within or on the outside of the plant's roots forming a symbiotic or parasitic relationship
ectotrophic mycorrhiza, endotrophic mycorrhiza
Derived forms
mycorrhizal (ˌmycorˈrhizal) or mycorhizal (ˌmycoˈrhizal)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from myco- + Greek rhiza root
mycorrhiza in American English
(ˌmaɪkoʊˈraɪzə)
nounWord forms: pluralˌmycorˈrhiˌzae (ˌmaɪkoʊˈraɪˌzi) or ˌmycorˈrhizas
an intimate symbiotic association of the mycelium of certain fungi with the root cells of some vascular plants, as certain orchids