Metal resistance in trees: the role of mycorrhizae

On metal contaminated soils, the colonization and survival of plants is known to occur primarily through the selection of genotypes with heritable resistance traits that occur naturally within some species and populations. It has also been suggested, however, that the ability to withstand pollution...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oikos 1995-03, Vol.72 (2), p.298-300
Main Authors: Wilkinson, D.M, Dickinson, N.M. (Liverpool Univ. (United Kingdom). Biological and Earth Sciences)
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
ARBOLES
ARBRE
Biological and medical sciences
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi
Forest soils
Forum
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungi
GENETICA
GENETICS
GENETIQUE
GENOMAS
GENOME
GENOMES
GROWTH
HEAVY METALS
METAL LOURD
Metal tolerance
METALES PESADOS
MYCORHIZE
MYCORRHIZAE
Plant genetics
Plant roots
Plants
POLLUTION DU SOL
POLUCION DEL SUELO
RESISTANCE AUX FACTEURS NUISIBLES
RESISTANCE TO INJURIOUS FACTORS
RESISTENCIA A AGENTES DANINOS
Soil fungi
SOIL POLLUTION
TREES
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Summary:On metal contaminated soils, the colonization and survival of plants is known to occur primarily through the selection of genotypes with heritable resistance traits that occur naturally within some species and populations. It has also been suggested, however, that the ability to withstand pollution stress may be due to mycorrhizal colonization of roots ameliorating the toxicity of heavy metals (Dickinson et al. 1991, Wilkins 1991). The evolutionary significance of this possibility has not really been considered, but there is considerably more opportunity for genetic change in the shorter lifecycle of a fungus than in even a short-lived higher plant. We argue that elucidation of genetic changes within mycorrhizal communities is crucial to a proper understanding of the survival of long-lived and non-tolerant plants in metal-contaminated soils.
ISSN:0030-1299
1600-0706
DOI:10.2307/3546233