Allelopathic effect of phenolic acids from humic solutions on two spruce mycorrhizal fungi:Cenococcum graniforme andLaccaria laccata.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the impact ofp-hydroxyacetophenone,p-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechol, and protocatechuic acid on respiration of two spruce mycorrhizal fungi:Laccaria laccata andCenococcum graniforme. These phenols are produced byVaccinium myrtillus,Athyrium filixfemina, andPicea abies, predominant species of spruce forests in the Alps, and they are also present in humic solutions at 10(-10) M or 10(-5) M. Respiration of the two fungi was inhibited by the four phenolic acids, even at concentrations ranging from 10(-5) M to 10(-7) M. These data show phenolic acids from humic solutions have biological activity at extremely low concentrations, suggesting a contribution ofV. myrtillus, A. filixfemina, andP. abies to allelopathic inhibition of mycorrhizal fungi.