Hyperaccumulation of silver by Amanita strobiliformis and related species of the section Lepidella.

Two ectomycorrhizal macrofungal Amanita species of the section Lepidella, A. strobiliformis and A. solitaria, were found to hyperaccumulate silver (Ag). All samples were collected from non-argentiferous areas with background Ag content in soils (0.07-1.01 mgkg(-1) Ag). The Ag contents of both Amanita species were mostly in the range of 200-700 mgkg(-1)D.W. with the highest Ag content of 1253 mgkg(-1) in one sample of A. strobiliformis. Silver concentrations in macrofungal fruit bodies were commonly 800-2500 times higher than in underlying soils. A. strobiliformis and A. solitaria are the first eukaryotic organisms known to hyperaccumulate Ag.

Antimony content of macrofungi from clean and polluted areas.

Species of macrofungi (mushrooms) were collected from clean areas and analyzed for their antimony content. These were compared to species collected from extremely polluted areas in the vicinity of a lead smelter and on mine and slag dumps. Antimony content was determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Ectomycorrhizal and terrestrial saprobic macrofungi were examined. Antimony content of macrofungi from the clean areas was mostly less than 100 microg kg(-1) (dry mass). The highest concentrations (units of mg kg(-1)) were found in various species of the ectomycorrhizal genera Chalciporus and Suillus. Antimony contents of macrofungi growing in the polluted areas were considerably higher. The highest content was found in a single collection of Chalciporus piperatus (1,423 mg kg(-1)).

Gold content of ectomycorrhizal and saprobic macrofungi from non-auriferous and unpolluted areas.

Ectomycorrhizal and saprobic macrofungi growing in the wild were collected from non-auriferous and unpolluted areas and analyzed for gold. Gold was determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). In total, 154 samples, including 67 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi and 22 species of terrestrial saprobes, were examined. Gold contents of the both groups were mostly less than 20 ng g(-1) of D.W. The highest concentrations (expressed in D.W.) were found in the ectomycorrhizal species Amanita strobiliformis (136 ng g(-1)), Russula claroflava (148 ng g(-1)), Cantharellus lutescens (156 and 210 ng g(-1)), and Boletus edulis (235 ng g(-1)). Among the saprobic fungi, the highest values were found in Langermannia gigantea (160 ng g(-1)) and Morchella esculenta (189 ng g(-1)). Species of Agaricus commonly had relatively high gold values, 10s of ng g(-1). The gold content of macrofungal fruit bodies was considerably higher than that of vascular plants, and parallels concentrations found in plants growing in auriferous areas.