Cadmium stress causes differential effects on growth and the secretion of carbon-degrading enzymes in four mycorrhizal basidiomycetes.

We hypothesised that cadmium exposure would hinder growth and secretion of carbon-degrading enzymes by mycorrhizal fungi, and that this would vary according to their tolerance to cadmium stress. The enzymes measured were β-Glucosidase, β-Xylosidase, β-D-cellubiosidase, N-acetyl-β-Glucosaminidase in three strains of ectomycorrhizal fungi Hebeloma subsaponaceum, Scleroderma sp., Hebeloma sp. and a feremycorrhizal fungus Austroboletus occidentalis. Fungi were subjected to cadmium stress for 28 d (in modified Melin-Norkrans liquid medium). The results showed unanticipated differential response of enzyme activities among the fungal species, including potential hormesis effects. Austroboletus occidentalis showed an increase in enzyme activity under cadmium stress.