THE MYCORRHIZAL STATUS OF PLANTS COLONIZING A CALAMINE SPOIL MOUND INSOUTHERN POLAND

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) status of two plant communities on a c alamine spoil mound (rich in cadmium, lead and zinc) in southern Polan d was surveyed: an undisturbed grassland community and an early succes sion community that developed after complete removal of the surface la yer of the calamine substrate about 10 years earlier. The undisturbed site harbored 40 herbaceous species making up 87% of the absolute cove r. AM colonization was recorded in 25 species accounting for 77% of th e relative cover. Species with 51-75% AM root colonization such as Fes tuca ovina and Leontodon hispidus dominated the undisturbed turf, cont ributing 45% to the relative cover. Carex ssp. were the most abundant nonmycorrhizal plants and ac counted for 9% of the relative cover. Spo res of Glomus aggregatum, G. constrictum, G. fasciculatum, G. pansihal os, Glomus sp. and Entrophospora sp. averaged 25 per 100 g dry substra te at the undisturbed site. The disturbed site was colonized by 25 spe cies accounting for 17% of the absolute cover. Among the AM plants, mo st abundant were the species with up to 20% AM root colonization, such as Agrostis stolonifera and Thymus pulegioides, wich accounted for 24 % of the relative cover. Nonmycorrhizal species, such as Biscutella la evigata, Cardaminopsis arenosa, Gypsophila fastigiata and Silene vulga ris, dominated the early succession community and contributed 64% to t he relative cover. Spores of G. fasciculatum and Entrophospora sp. ave raged 20 per 100 g dry substrate at the disturbed site.