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 involut us hyphae associated with Pinus sylvestris mycorrhizae, collected from heavily polluted sites were analysed by electron spectroscopic imagin g (ESI) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) connected with th e electron microscope (TEM 902, Zeiss). On the basis of the elemental composition two kinds of granules were distinguished. The first, simil ar in appearance to polyphosphate granules, described already for seve ral fungi, was characterized by high contents of phosphorus accompanie d by sulphur, calcium and often aluminium. More common, however, was t he second sort of granules containing more nitrogen, sulphur and cadmi um, while the amount of phosphorus was much lower. The data reveal acc umulation of cadmium inside fungal vacuoles and suggest the possibilit y of detoxification of heavy metal by the symbiotic fungus.