Summary
By the use of a specific histochemical staining method evidence was obtained that tolerance to heavy metals in ectomycorrizal fungi is based on the presence of metallothionein-like proteins.
The implication that tolerance in these fungi should be induced by sublethal concentrations of heavy metals has been confirmed by us. Induction of metallothionein in ectomycorrizal fungi could possibly be helpful in protection of their host plants in areas polluted by heavy metals.
In comparison with biochemical methods the histochemical method is able to locate the metal tolerance and has the added advantage that it may also be applied to mycorrhizas (root and fungus).
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Morselt, A.F.W., Smits, W.T.M. & Limonard, T. Histochemical demonstration of heavy metal tolerance in ectomycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 96, 417–420 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02375146
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02375146