Study: Fungus Helps Plants Soak Up Carbon Dioxide | KNAU Arizona Public Radio

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Microscopic visual illustration of Ectomycorrhizal fungi on the roots of a tree.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (the mushrooms connected to the roots of the tree) increase the uptake of nitrogen by the plant, even when that nutrient is scarce in soils. Artwork by Victor O. Leshyk.

Bruce Hungate, Director of the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society at Northern Arizona University, is one of the coauthors of this new study. He was surprised to find a symbiotic relationship between plants and a certain fungus boosted growth even without nitrogen. Hear about the study in this short broadcast by KNAU.

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