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2.3 Biological Characteristics
Fungi
Soil fungi may appear
as large spores, often
dark brown, or as long
strands called hyphae.
Not all fungi form mushrooms!
In fact, mushroom-forming
fungi are more rare in dryland
environments than fungi that
do not form mushrooms.
micropores that are too small for roots.
There they can make nutrients bound to
soil particles available to plants, or help bind
nutrients to minerals. Microbes that grow on
plant roots or leaves without harming the
plant can repel pests and diseases. Some
microbes can consume and process wastes,
including synthetic chemicals, making them
non-toxic. Others, especially long strands of
fungi, can transport and store water and soil
nutrients. And microbes produce and emit a
huge array of chemicals that can be used as
signals between different microbes and also
some that mitigate plant and animal growth
and development.
We will identify other functions
in the following activity.