Air Pollution and Fungal Endophytes in Needles of Austrian Pine

Summary JURC M., JURC D., GOGALA N. & SIMONCIC P. 1996. Air pollution and fungal endophytes in needles of Austrian pine. - Phyton (Horn, Austria) 36 (3): (111) - (114). Species composition of endophytic fungi in healthy needles of Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) was investigated at eight locations in Slovenia. Results from October 1994 and January 1995 isolations were compared with analyses of macronutrient s, sulphur and lead content of the needles. About 80 species of microfungi were revealed. The pollution load of all measured elements was low and the environmental factors are very diverse. At the site with the highest amount of lead in needles the frequency of isolated fungi was the lowest. Ecological factors have the most pronounced effects on species composition and on frequency of colonisation.