Influence of increasing concentrations of copper on soil micromycetes

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.