Answer
Fungal hyphae form mycorrhizal associations with plants’ roots, providing increased uptake of water and minerals from the soil. This happens since fungi consist of long, thin files of cells called hyphae, which have abundant surface area. The relative amount of surface area depends on how swiftly or slowly material can be absorbed. This in turn drives more growth from the plants, including increased leaf area.
Work Step by Step
Review Concept 31.1 as well as the previous sections on microvilli in animal intestines, which also have a long, thin shape and lots of surface area for the same functional reason.
