Common trends in organisation of the structure of micromycetes complexes in
polluted soils and in experimental conditions with increasing concentratio
ns of Cu++ in soil were revealed. Micromycetes from experiments could be di
vided into 4 groups according to their Cu++ sensibility: extrasensitive (wh
en the fungus is eliminated from the community at Cu concentrations of 100-
300 mg/kg); stimulated by low concentrations of copper (100-300 mg/kg); mod
erately tolerant (surviving concentrations of less than 1000 mg/kg); highly
resistant (tolerating concentrations up, to 8000 mg/kg). Development of ph
ytopathogens Verticillum spp. was observed under high levels of Cu ions (10
00-8000 mg/kg). Some species (such as Torula lucifiga and Aspergillus ustus
) showed increased cellulase activity at high levels of Cu++ ions in soil.