PAXILLUS-INVOLUTUS - PINUS-SYLVESTRIS MYCORRHIZAE FROM HEAVILY POLLUTED FOREST .1. ELEMENT LOCALIZATION USING ELECTRON-ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY AND IMAGING

The electron-opaque granules localized in vacuoles of Paxillus involutus hyphae associated with Pinus sylvestris mycorrhizae, collected from heavily polluted sites were analysed by electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) connected with the electron microscope (TEM 902, Zeiss). On the basis of the elemental composition two kinds of granules were distinguished. The first, similar in appearance to polyphosphate granules, described already for several fungi, was characterized by high contents of phosphorus accompanied by sulphur, calcium and often aluminium. More common, however, was the second sort of granules containing more nitrogen, sulphur and cadmium, while the amount of phosphorus was much lower. The data reveal accumulation of cadmium inside fungal vacuoles and suggest the possibility of detoxification of heavy metal by the symbiotic fungus.