Interactions between fungi and plants through the ages

Abstract

Most of the modern vascular plants form either endo- or ecto-mycorrhizal symbioses with fungi. Few plants are not mycotrophic. Each condition has probably arisen in different groups of plants, at different times during their evolution, and with different consequences: the origin of vascular plants, the evolution of arborescent and herbaceous habits, and the differences in composition of forests are speculatively linked with mycotrophism.