Exploring Fungi Facts: What There Is to Know - Page 4 of 8

Fungi Form Close Relationships with Plants and Animals

Fungi ensure their survival by forming symbiotic relationships with plants and animals. These relationships can be mutually beneficial (mutualistic) or damaging to the host (parasitic). A prime example of a mutualistic relationship is the way certain fungi interact with plant roots. Various species known as mycorrhizal fungi colonize roots and feed off the carbon that a plant produces.