Zinc accumulation potential and toxicity threshold determined for a metal-accumulating Populus canescens clone in a dose-response study.

The effect of increasing soil Zn concentrations on growth and Zn tissue concentrations of a metal-accumulating aspen clone was examined in a dose-response study. Plants were grown in a soil with a low native Zn content which was spiked with Zn salt solutions and subsequently aged. Plant growth was not affected by NH(4)NO(3)-extractable soil Zn concentrations up to 60 microg Zn g(-1) soil, but it was completely inhibited at extractable concentrations above 90 microg Zn g(-1) soil.

Bioconcentration of zinc and cadmium in ectomycorrhizal fungi and associated aspen trees as affected by level of pollution.

Concentrations of Zn and Cd were measured in fruitbodies of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and leaves of co-occurring accumulator aspen. Samples were taken on three metal-polluted sites and one control site. Fungal bioconcentration factors (BCF = fruitbody concentration: soil concentration) were calculated on the basis of total metal concentrations in surface soil horizons (BCF(tot)) and NH(4)NO(3)-extractable metal concentrations in mineral soil (BCF(lab)).

Ectomycorrhizal communities associated with Populus tremula growing on a heavy metal contaminated site.

European aspen is one of the most widely distributed trees in Central Europe and is a typical early colonizer of poor and disturbed soils. However, little is known about ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in these ecosystems. We examined the ECM community of European aspen growing on a heavily contaminated site in southern Austria by analysing ECM roots, sorting them into morphotypes, subjecting them to DNA extraction, PCR, and DNA sequencing.

Media formulation influences in vitro ectomycorrhizal synthesis on the European aspen Populus tremula L.

The effect of various media formulations on in vitro ectomycorrhizal synthesis of identified fungal strains with European aspen (Populus tremula L.) was tested in Petri dishes. Pre-grown seedlings were transferred to various nutrient media and inoculated with Paxillus involutus isolates using modified sandwich techniques.