Arsenate resistance in the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae

Abstract

• Differential resistance to arsenate (AsO4 3- ) is demonstrated here among populations of the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae isolated from Calluna vulgaris in natural heathland soils and soils contaminated with AsO4 3- . • Isolates (c.25) of the fungus from each of two As and Cu mine sites, and a natural heathland site, were screened for AsO4 3- and Cu2+ resistance by growing isolates in media containing a range of AsO4 3- and Cu2+ concentrations. • H. ericae populations from the mine sites demonstrated resistance to AsO4 3- compared with the heathland population; the mine-site populations producing significant growth at the highest AsO4 3- concentration (4.67mol m-3 ), whereas growth of the heathland population was almost completely inhibited. EC50 values for mine-site isolates were estimated to be 5-41-times higher than the heathland population. All isolates produced identical responses to increasing Cu2+ concentrations, with no differences observed between mine-site and heathland isolates. • Populations of H. ericae on the contaminated mine sites have developed adaptive resistance to AsO4 3- . By contrast, Cu2+ resistance appears to be constitutive.