Glomus (fungus)
genus of fungi
Glomus is a genus of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, all of its species forming symbiotic relationships (mycorrhizae) with plant roots.
Taxonomy
Glomus is one of the genera in the family Glomeraceae,
Glomus is the largest genus of AM fungi, with about 85 species described, but is currently defined as non-monophyletic. It is likely related to the fossil fungus Glomites, discovered in the Rhynie chert deposits from the Early Devonian (400 million years ago).
Species
Life cycle
Glomus species were considered to be entirely asexual until recently. Spores are produced at the tips of hyphae either within the host root or outside the root in the soil. Thought to be chlamydospores, these spores germinate and the germination tube that is produced grows through the soil until it comes into contact with roots. The fungus then penetrates the root and grows between root cells, or it may penetrate the cell wall and grow within root cells. Inside the root, the fungus forms arbuscules, which are highly branched hyphal structures that serve as sites of nutrient exchange with the plant. Arbuscules are formed within plant cell walls but are surrounded by an invaginated cell membrane, so remain within the apoplast. The fungus may also form vesicles, swollen structures which are thought to function as food storage organs.
The public source identifies “Glomus (fungus)” as genus of fungi. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Glomus, fungus and genus.
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The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 31, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q80855. The Library of Congress control number is sh88005972. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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This entry incorporates text from “Glomus (fungus)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.