EN
Probably all gymnosperms and about 85% angiosperms are able to form mycorrhizae. All terrestial gymnosperms seem to require mycorrhizae for survival and reproduction in the natural environment. Most of the herbaceous plants are exlusively VAMF partners. The VAM fungi show a wide distribution - they belong to several genera of the Zygomycetes, Glomales and Gigasporinae orders. They are obligatory biotrophic organisms, acquiring nutritional elements from living cells of plant roots. The interaction between root cells and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi changes: quantity and quality of roots exudates; transportation of carbon between leaves, stalks and roots of plants, uptake of P, N and microelements by plants. The root colonization by symbiotic fungi contributes to biocontrol of plant pathogens, decrease of water deficiency stress and toxicity of heavy metals to plants. Plant roots colonization by VAM fungi is controlled by molecular signals. These signals reach both the fungal spores and intracellular receptors of plants on specific points on the membrane. Molecular signals from VAM fungi induce expression of specific plant symbiosis genes controlling establishment and effectiveness of mycorrhiza.