appressorium
/ˌæprəˈsɔriəm/
noun
- A specialized structure formed by some fungi or parasites that helps them attach to and penetrate a host (such as a plant or animal).
- Scientists studied the appressorium to understand how the pathogen infects crops.
- Under the microscope, the appressorium looked like a tiny suction cup on the plant cell.
- The fungus formed an appressorium to break through the leaf's surface.