AIIMS 2019 Botany Symbiotic Relationships Assertion Reason Question

Option B is correct because the assertion that Glomus fungi have a close biological interaction with higher plants to complete their life cycle is true, while stating that both Azospirillum and Azotobacter are free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria is also accurate. However, the reasoning that connects these two statements is flawed, as the relationship between Glomus and higher plants is mycorrhizal, whereas Azospirillum and Azotobacter do not have a direct interaction with plants like Glomus does. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the nature of the relationships described in the assertion and reasoning.