THE EFFECT OF ALUMINUM ON THE CYTOKININS IN THE MYCELIA OF LACTARIUS-PIPERATUS

The effect of aluminium on the endogenous cytokinins in the mycelium o f Lactarius piperatus, whose growth is stimulated by this ion, was inv estigated. Based on co-elution with standards by HPLC, retention by an ti-cytokinin antibody columns, and by the Amaranthus bioassay, five cy tokinins were detected: zeatin, dihydrozeatin, zeatin riboside, dihydr ozeatin riboside and isopentenyladenine. No significant change in tota l cytokinin activity was found in the mycelia treated with 0.1 and 1 m M aluminium. Treatment with 10 mM aluminium resulted in an increase in cytokinins largely due to zeatin and isopentenyladenine. At the same time the relative amounts of dihydrozeatin and zeatin riboside decreas ed. Isopentenyladenine seemed to be the most affected by aluminium str ess as its increase was observed even at lower concentrations of alumi nium treatment. The results are compared with previous investigations of aluminium effects on mycorrhizal fungi.