INVITRO UPTAKE OF CADMIUM BY BASIDIOMYCETES PLEUROTUS-OSTREATUS

The mycelium of Basidiomycetes Pleurotus ostreatus was grown in liquid cultures of malt broth enriched with increasing amounts of cadmium also in the presence of copper and glutathione. Cadmium, up to 150-mu-g/ml gradually inhibited mycelial development but never blocked it completely. Cadmium accumulated to a higher degree (20 mg/g dry wt) when administered alone and was mostly bound (80%) to hyphal cell walls. Interactions with copper may play an important role in cadmium tolerance.