Susceptibility of ectomycorrhizal and ectondomycorrhizal fungi to pH of the environment

Abstract

The present study should yield some information on the reaction of different species and strains of mycorrhizal fungi to acidification or alkalization of substrate. The effect of acidity of medium on development of mycorrhizal fungi was tested at the following ranges of pH: 2.5, 3.0, 3.9 ,4.9 ,5.4, 6.6 and 7.3. At pH 2.5 and 3.0 almost half of the fungal cultures tested did not resume their growth during an entire period of the experiment For some fungi pH 7.3 turned out to be such as much unfavourable as a high acidification of medium. The results of the study indicate that excessive acidity of substrate may be more unfavourable for the development of mycorrhizal fungi than its alkalization. The pH range tolerated by mycorrhizal fungi in Ihe second case seems to be wider.