Fungi and other microbes release acidic chemicals (IMAGE)

Institute of Science and Technology Austria

Fungi and other microbes release acidic chemicals

Caption

Fungi and other microbes break down dead plant material in the soil. By doing so, they release acidic chemicals that spread outward like a warning signal. Nearby roots sense this acidic zone before touching the decay and bend away from it. 

Credit

© Bao et al. / Science

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