Translocation and incorporation of strontium carbonate derived strontium into calcium oxalate crystals by the wood decay fungus <i>Resinicium bicolor</i>

Abstract

The white-rot wood decay fungus Resinicium bicolor (Abertini &amp; Schwein.: Fr.) Parmasto was studied for its ability to solubilize and translocate ions from the naturally occurring mineral strontianite. Resinicium bicolor colonized a soil mixture culture medium containing strontianite sand, solubilized strontium ions from this mineral phase, translocated the ions vertically, and reprecipitated the strontium into strontium-containing calcium oxalate crystals. Storage of the Sr in crystals was highest in mycelial cords and was dynamic in character. These results suggest that non-mycorrhizal saprotrophic fungi should be evaluated for their potential participation in forest nutrient cycling via biologically weathering parent material and translocating the mobilized mineral nutrients vertically within soils.Key words: fungi, strontium, calcium oxalate, translocation, soil, minerals nutrient cycling.