A micro-well method for estimating fungal response to metal ions. Response to aluminium by some saprophytic basidiomycetes

Cultures of 19 saprophytic basidiomycete species were examined for aluminium resistance using a micro-well technique. The following aluminium concentrations have been employed: 0, 1, e¹, e², e³, and e⁴ mM given as sulphate. Three of the saprophytic species were also tested at the pH values generated by the same A1 concentrations. The following species were considered resistant: Mycena galopus, M. metata, M. inclinata, M. viridimarginata, Marasmius androsaceus, Galerina calyptrata , and Hypholoma capnoides . The following were sensitive: Micromphale perforans, Mycena cinerella, Clitocybe fragrans , and Clitocybe metachroa . The remaining species showed intermediate responses. The autecology of species exhibiting either a high resistance or a high sensitivity is discussed. Mycena galopus , found to be particularly resistant, may be specially tolerant to acidification since it is reported to increase or persist in polluted environments by several authors.