The effects of toxic metals,content of nutrients and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on the level of phenolics in roots and growth of Scots pine seedlings

The effects of two substrates and several strains of mycorrhizal fungi on the content of soluble phenolics in roots and growth of Scots pine seedlings was investigated. The first substrate was fertile and contaminated with copper, zinc and lead, whereas the second one displayed nutrient deficiency. The dry weights of needles, trunks, roots and the total biomass were higher in groups of seedlings inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi on fertile and polluted substrate. Inoculation of pine seedlings on this substrate resulted in a decrease in concentration of phenolics in roots and except for seedlings inoculated with Laccaria laccata negatively influenced the above-ground part: root ratio.