Question

What advantage does fungus (genus - Glomus) derive from the symbiotic association as Mycorrhiza?

Answer 1

Glomus is a genus of arbuscular mychorrhizal fungi. All the species of this genus are found to be in symbiotic relationships with plant roots.
As this fungus has less saprobic ability, it largely depends on its host plant for its carbon nutrition. It takes sugars from plant host, as plant is capable of producing sugar through the process of photosynthesis. Fungus takes its carbon nutrition through arbuscules. Arbuscules are branched structure produced by fungus inside plant's root cells, for the exchange of nutrients between host plant and fungus. Besides nutrition plant also provide shelter to fungus. The fungus in turn provides plant with improved nutrient uptake, drought resistance, and disease resistance.