外生菌根為木本植物與菌根真菌共生形成，可促進植物對於養分及水分之吸收，增加植 物抵抗環境逆境的能力。外生菌根會造成根部形態及導水度改變，藉由分析植物受菌根真菌誘導 之相關基因表現，可於分子層面上探討外生菌根對於植物抵抗乾旱逆境能力之可能影響。

Ectomycorrhiza is a symbiosis between roots of woody plants and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Ectomycorrhiza can help plant roots with water and nutrient absorption, and increase plant resistance to environmental stress. The architecture and hydraulic conductivity of plant roots changed after ectomycorrhiza formed. Analyzing gene expression in plant roots induced by ectomycorrhizal fungi shows how ectomycorrhiza affects plant resistance to drought at molecular levels.