The montropoid plants may not be totally parasitic on their fungus' tree host. Preliminary studies of freshly isolated endophytes from Monotropa hypopitys L. have shown them to have considerable proteolytic capability. Access to protein could, in the organic rich substrates in which these plants normally grow, provide the carbon and nitrogen required for growth. Both hosts of the fungus probably obtain their mineral nutrition via the fungus. All rights reserved.
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