(b) nutrients

Explanation:

The roots of higher plants possess symbiotic mycorrhizae. It is a symbiotic, non-pathogenic association between the roots and soil fungi. Several conifers lack root hair and here the mycorrhizae perform this function.

The mycorrhizae are of two types : ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae with an intermediate category as ectondomycorrhizae. The most common endomycorrhizae are Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM), generally present in herbaceous plants. Mycorrhizae perform the function of root hair, i.e. they absorbs essential ions.