Independent assignment

Question 1

how is it spelt

Answer 1

Rhizophagus irregularis

Question 2

domain

Answer 2

eukarya

Question 3

kingdom

Answer 3

fungi

Question 4

phylum

Answer 4

glomeromycota

Question 5

what is it

Answer 5

soil fungi that forms symbiotic relationship with 72% of vascular plants

Question 6

soil inoculate

Answer 6

microbes introduced to soil in liquid form

Question 7

what kind of relationship

Answer 7

mutualistic relationship with plant roots and improves ability to absorb nutrients

Question 8

unique qualities

Answer 8

ability to form arbuscules to increase nutrient exchange (phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur) and carbon sequestration, process of storing carbon so reduces amount in atmosphere

Question 9

in the news recently

Answer 9

transfers inorganic nitrogen into plant roots under drought stress to improve plants drought tolerance, N protects photosynthetic apparatus to allow plant to keep making energy in less ideal conditions

Question 10

where is it found

Answer 10

almost everywhere, frequent in plants growing on mineral soils or nutrient deficient environments (sand dunes/volcanic soil), thrives in locations with high diversity and many potential hosts

Question 11

where is it found less

Answer 11

lower population in waterlogged soils, has not been found in antartica

Question 12

preferred pH/temp

Answer 12

neutral to slightly acidic (6-7), wide range of temperatures

Question 13

unusual metabolic features

Answer 13

not great saprobic ability (digestion of decayed matter into carbon), 20% of plants carbon transfers through arbuscules into microbe, the more C the more phosphorus the microbe absorbs and gives to plant

Question 14

morphology

Answer 14

large spores 50-500microm and filamentous hyphae that form large networks, white/cream/brown, irregular shape

Question 15

spores

Answer 15

long lived spores that travel far, germinate fast, aid survival in harsh conditions

Question 16

vesicles

Answer 16

lipid storage structures in plant roots to support long term survival

Question 17

pathogen?

Answer 17

no

Question 18

use in biotechnology

Answer 18

phytoremediation (using living things to clean up contaminated environments), when reintroducing plants to these areas they inoculate the soil with microbe which allows plant to establish themselves in contaminated soil, improves quality over time, extracts heavy metals from soil

Question 19

biofertilizers/inoculants

Answer 19

can be used as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers reducing amount of phosphorus used in farming

Question 20

type of fungus

Answer 20

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus