Myco-heterotrophy (Greek: μυκός mykós, "fungus", ἕτερος heteros = "another", "different" and τροφή trophe = "nutrition") is a
symbiotic relationship between certain kinds of
plants and
fungi, in which the plant gets all or part of its food from
parasitism upon fungi rather than from
photosynthesis. A
myco-heterotroph is the
parasitic plant partner in this relationship. Myco-heterotrophy is considered a kind of
cheating relationship and myco-heterotrophs are sometimes informally referred to as "
mycorrhizal cheaters". This relationship is sometimes referred to as
mycotrophy, though this term is also used for plants that engage in
mutualistic mycorrhizal relationships.
