Abstract
Most studies exploring the contribution of the mycorrhizal symbiosis to plant metal tolerance focus on plant-metal uptake and
disregard metal effects on the symbiotic fungi. We examined the tolerance of the model arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus
Rhizophagus irregularisto Al and Pb in vitro cultures with transformed carrot (Daucus carota L.) roots that exclude the
interference of other microbiota. We studied the development of roots and external mycelium of R. irregularis in monoxenic and
axenic cultures with increasing concentrations of Al and Pb. Structures (roots, hyphae, spores) were quantified every month and
root and extra-radical mycelium dry biomass were determined in final harvests. Root biomass tended to decrease with increasing
Al concentrations and to increase with the highest Pb concentrations. These trends were similar for nonmycorrhizal and
mycorrhizal carrot roots. Al or Pb did not reduce biomass of the external mycelium of R. irregularis. On the contrary, both
metals promoted fungal growth at the highest concentrations. These results show a differential response of roots and mycorrhizal
mycelium to metal exposure. They suggest that mycorrhizal mycelium development is more likely constrained indirectly through
root growth inhibition and plant carbon shortage than by their own tolerance limits to aluminum.