Chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br) are important but understudied elements in terrestrial ecosystems, and their accumulation in mushrooms remains poorly characterized. We determined Cl and Br content in 126 mushroom samples collected from a temperate coniferous forest plantation with uniform environmental characteristics. The concentrations of both elements were also determined in a representative soil profile and organic topsoil layers across the studied site. The halogen concentrations in mushrooms ranged from 30 to 35,900 mg Cl kg⁻1 and 0.18 to 45.9 mg Br kg⁻1 (dry mass). The accumulation of Cl showed species- and genus-specific patterns, and the Cl concentrations were up to a hundred times higher than those in the topsoil. The concentrations of Br in mushrooms were several orders of magnitude lower than the concentrations of Cl and generally lower than those in the soil layers. Considerable accumulation of both elements was noted in ectomycorrhizal species of the genus Amanita. Multivariate analysis revealed no significant relationship between total Cl and other macroelements except for a weak relationship with potassium. The results provide new insights into halogen accumulation in fungi and indicate a potential role of mushrooms in the biogeochemical cycling of Cl and Br in temperate forest ecosystems.

Sarcosphaera (Ascomycota: Pezizales) is a genus of rare spring fungi, currently encompassing a single species, S. coronaria, which is red-listed in many European countries. The genus is characterized by large bright-colored fruit-bodies and high arsenic content. This study investigates the genetic diversity across Europe and North America. Using integrated molecular techniques, including ITS and 28S rDNA sequencing, we aimed to resolve the taxonomic ambiguities and assess their arsenic hyperaccumulation capabilities, a rare trait among fungi. We identified the presence of two species in the Western Palearctic (S. coronaria, S. crassa) and at least 12 additional lineages in North America, indicating a more complex taxonomic structure than previously recognized. To consolidate the taxonomy and nomenclature of these fungi, we selected reference specimens for S. coronaria and S. crassa and discussed their morphological and ecological differences. Two genera, Caulocarpa (C. montana) and Hydnotryopsis (H. setchellii), a genus comprising hypogeous fungi, are newly placed in the genus Sarcosphaera. Sarcosphaera is thus another genus where the rapid evolution of hypogeous forms from their above-ground ancestors took place. Furthermore, two new Sarcosphaera species, S. columbiana and S. pacifica, are described from the Pacific Northwest. Investigation of arsenic content of Sarcosphaera species revealed that arsenic mass fractions in ascocarps vary significantly between species and even within species across different geographical locations. Our findings have important implications for the taxonomy and conservation of the S. coronaria species complex and also point to future directions for further research in the taxonomy, geomycology, and toxicology of this group of fungi.

Soil structure and the corresponding soil hydraulic properties of arable soils vary considerably over time due to soil consolidation, root growth, soil swelling and shrinking, etc. The effect of root biomass growth has rarely been studied. Therefore, this study focused on short-term changes of these properties after sowing the model plant. Soil taken from the surface horizon of a Haplic Chernozem was packed in plastic columns, in which green pea plants were grown for 41 days. Three undisturbed soil samples were taken always from one of the plastic columns 16, 23, 30, and 41 days after the sowing to obtain soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves, bulk density and porosity. Two undisturbed samples were also taken for micromorphological analyses to evaluate porosity detected on each image. Four plastic columns were always disassembled to analyze root masses in each column. Both porosity and saturated soil water content increased over time. The initially gradual shape of the soil water retention curves changed into step-like shape (i.e., shape parameters α and n decreased and increased, respectively). Saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased. Significant positive correlations were found between the root mass and porosity, saturated water content or water content at the inflection point of the retention curve. Other correlations between the root mass and soil characteristics were not statistically significant. However, the relatively high R values indicated the direct impact of root biomass on all parameters.

The character of modern pedogenesis in the territory of the Brdská and Křivoklátská vrchovina Highlands was studied on silicate rocks such as Paleozoic granite and Proterozoic mudstone and greywacke. The parent materials were evaluated on the basis of petrography, X-ray diffractometry of powder samples of rock forming and heavy minerals. The soils were described as for their macromorphological characterics and the results of a variety of analyses of organic and anorganic components. Pedogenesis proceeded in acid conditions. The values of base saturation are mostly below 50 % for the Ah horizons. The intensity of soil development on individual parent material decreases in the order: mudstone (Ah-AhBw-Bw-C)granite (Oi-Oe-Oa-Ah-Bw-C)greywacke 1 (Oi-Oe-Oa-Ah-AhC-C)greywacke 2 (Oi-Oe-Oa-Ah-C). The process of humification was documented at all study sites. Evidence of pedogenetic alteration is present in soils developed on granite and mudstone. High amounts of chlorite and elevated contents of illite are characteristic for Cambic Leptosols (Dystric, Skeletic) on mudstone. Weddellite and whewellite were found in relatively large amounts in O horizons of soils except for the Červený kríž site. The predominant from of calcium oxalate minerals at these sites is whewellite. Weddellite occurs in small amount, which is probably due to its lower stability.

Pedogenesis was studied on clayey sandstones, calcareous sandstones, sandy marlstones and silty marlstones in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. These rocks were evaluated by petrography and X-ray diffractometry. The soils were characterized on the basis of a variety of analyses of organic and anorganic components. Soil formation proceeded predominantly under neutral and basic conditions. Calcaric Leptosols are of smaller thickness and less prominent pedogenesis than Cambic Leptosols. The main pedogenetic process in all soils is humification. A rapid reduction of the amount of organic matter in soil profiles is typical for soils on clayey sandstone and sandy marlstone. The content of organic matter decreases gradually down the soil profiles on calcareous sandstone and silty marlstone. The intensity of modern pedogenesis is higher in Cambic Leptosols developed on calcareous sandstone and silty marlstone compared to Calcaric Leptosols on sandy marlstone and clayey sandstone. This is due to the more balanced quartz/calcite ratio in the parent material (1.06 for calcareous sandstone, 1.51 for silty marlstone). It appears that the most important factor in Leptosol development is the parent material and that the development towards Cambisols can be hardly expected on silicate-carbonate rocks with a high proportion of quartz.

Amanita strobiliformis (European Pine Cone Lepidella) is an ectomycorrhizal fungus of the Amanitaceae family known to hyperaccumulate Ag in the sporocarps. Two populations (ecotypes) of A. strobiliformis collected from two urban forest plantations in Prague, Czech Republic, were investigated. The concentrations of Ag, Cu, Cd, and Zn were determined in the mushrooms. The metal mobility and fractionation in the soils was investigated by single extractions and sequential extraction. The soil distribution of A. strobiliformis mycelium was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The metal uptake from the soil into the mushroom sporocarps was traced by Pb isotopic fingerprinting. The findings suggested that A. strobiliformis (i) accumulates primarily Ag from the topsoil layer (circa 12cm deep) and (ii) accumulates Ag associated with the “reducible soil fraction”. The concentrations of all metals, particularly Ag and Cu, were significantly higher in the A. strobiliformis sporocarps from one of the investigated sites (Klíčov). The elevated concentrations of Ag in the sporocarps from Klíčov can possibly be attributed to the higher Ag content in the topsoil layer found at this site. However, the simultaneously elevated concentrations of Cu in A. strobiliformis from Klíčov cannot be explained by the differences in the geochemical background and should be attributed to biological factors.

Organic matter properties of soils were studied in a territory covered by Stagnosols after afforestation. We quantified the impact of afforestation on the amount and distribution of free organic matter, microaggregates (unstable and stable under low-intensity sonification) and their components in the upper horizons of former arable soils overgrown by different species of forest vegetation. The duration of 45 years after afforestation was revealed to be not sufficient for a complete renewal of soil humus state, which appears only after till 115 years of the duration of forest cenosis. The carbon storage in light fractions remains lower by 21-40 % relative to that of forest soil, including significant losses of free organic matter (42-58 %) and occluded organic matter (12-33 %), which present the most active part of soil organic matter. The positive impact of the deposit regime, expressed by a sharp improvement of the carbon cycle balance, is reflected by the C-unstable/C-stable ratio, which decreases from 6.2 in arable soil to 2.4 on average in forest stands.

The edible ink stain bolete (Cyanoboletus pulverulentus) was found to hyperaccumulate arsenic. We analyzed 39 individual collections determined as C. pulverulentus, mostly from the Czech Republic. According to our results, concentrations of arsenic in C. pulverulentus fruit-bodies may reach 1300 mg kg(-1) dry weight. In most collections, data for total and bioavailable arsenic in underlying soils were collected but no significant correlation between the soil arsenic content and arsenic concentrations in the associated fruit-bodies was found. Within the fruit-bodies, we found the majority of arsenic accumulated in the hymenium. Besides occasional traces of methylarsonic acid (MA), the arsenic speciation in all mushroom samples consisted solely of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and no inorganic arsenic was detected. Because of the carcinogenic potential of DMA, C. pulverulentus should not be recommended as an edible mushroom and its consumption should be restricted.

The study was performed in the territory of the Skryje-Tyrovice Basin, in the Buchava Formation. The study area falls within the Krivoklatsko Protected Landscape Area. Samples were collected from Albic Luvisol. Parent material was characterized on the basis of thin section study. Soil development was evaluated by parameters such as macromorphological analysis, particle size distribution, pH, base saturation, cation exchange capacity, soil organic matter and mineral composition of clay fraction. Results of the analyses, especially the thickness of Bt horizon and distribution of clay fraction in the soil profile, confirm the process of intensive pedogenetic clay differentiation. Trioctahedral 1:1 regularly interstratified mineral (R=1) containing chlorite and smectite layers (low-charge corrensite) was described for the first time in the soils of the Czech Republic. Corrensite was detected in the Ah horizon of Albic Luvisol under weakly acid reaction conditions in the increasing amount of organic matter using the X-ray diffraction analysis. The distribution of clay minerals in Albic Luvisol showed that soil development is influenced by loess and also volcanic rocks in the lower part of the profile.

Cortinarius coalescens Kärcher & Seibt is a rare European species of the subgenus Phlegmacium, section Phlegmacioides, neglected in recent molecular studies. New primers (CortF and CortR) designed for species in the section Phlegmacioides allowed to obtain ITS rDNA sequence data from the holotype collection of C. coalescens; according to the results, this epithet has priority over C. crassorum Rob. Henry ex Rob. Henry, C. pardinus Reumaux, and C. parargutus Bidaud, Moënne-Locc. & Reumaux. Morphological and ecological observations on recent collections of C. coalescens from the Czech Republic in comparison with the co-occurring C. largus are discussed. Nomenclatural and taxonomic comments on C. tomentosus Rob. Henry, C. balteatotomentosus Rob. Henry, and C. subtomentosus Reumaux are also provided. So far, C. coalescens is known with certainty from Germany, France, and the Czech Republic, where it grows in deciduous forests on acid to neutral soils. Arsenic and its compounds were determined in C. coalescens and related species of the section Phlegmacioides: C. largus, C. pseudodaulnoyae, and C. variecolor. Total arsenic concentrations were in the range 3.6–30.2 mg kg−1 (dry matter) and arsenobetaine was the major arsenic compound.

Dynamic light scattering and phase analysis light scattering have been used to study organo-clay complexes and aggregate stability of Haplic Stagnosols depending on land use. The study of agricultural soils afforested for 45years showed that the value of the effective diameter of organo-clay complexes slightly decreased compared to that in arable soil but remains still higher than that in the forest soil. Multiple linear regression statistical models were developed to predict the effective diameter of the particles. The best model (r=0.95), where all parameters were significant (P<0.05), included the clay content, clay carbon concentration, total iron (Fe-t) and soil color coordinates (L*, a*, b*). In the upper horizons, the effective diameter depends on the organic matter content, whereas iron oxides with surfaced position play the main role in the underlying horizons. Intensive tillage moves the colloidal system to coagulation and after withdrawal of arable Haplic Stagnosol from the agricultural production, the colloidal system tends to restore its peptization stability. However, it should be noted that the afforestation period (45years) of arable Haplic Stagnosols is not enough for a full recovery of organo-clay complexes peptization stability.

Plants influence the water regime in soil by both water uptake and an uneven distribution of water infiltration at the soil surface. The latter process is more poorly studied, but it is well known that roots modify soil structure by enhancing aggregation and biopore production. This study used a dye tracer to visualize the impact of plants on water flow in the topsoil of a Greyic Phaeozem. Brilliant blue was ponded to 10 cm height in a 1 m × 1 m frame in the field immediately after harvest of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). After complete infiltration, the staining patterns within the vertical and horizontal field-scale sections were studied. In addition, soil thin sections were made and micromorphological images were used to study soil structure and dye distribution at the microscale. The field-scale sections clearly documented uneven dye penetration into the soil surface, which was influenced by plant presence and in some cases by mechanical compaction of the soil surface. The micromorphological images showed that root activities compress soil and increases the bulk density near the roots (which could be also result of root water uptake and consequent soil adhesion). On the other hand in few cases a preferential flow along the roots was observed.

The development of soil cover on loess in regions of Cretaceous sediments and Devonian limestones in the Bohemian Massif was analysed. The study was performed in areas with different land use. Parent material was characterized on the basis of thin section study. Soils were evaluated by macromorphological analysis, particle size distribution, chemical properties, parameters of soil organic matter and mineral composition of clay fraction. The results revealed differences in the formation of soil cover which are predominately connected with geological conditions. The main pedogenetic process for Bohemian Cretaceous Basin is humification. Pedogenetic clay differentiation is relatively slight. Intense pedogenetic clay differentiation, less pronounced processes of litter formation and humification are characteristic for soils in the Devonian limestone areas. The intensity of processes of pedogenetic clay differentiation is influenced by pH values. The quality and quantity of soil organic matter were influenced by the source of biomass, biological activity and type of land use. Petrography of parent material from thin sections shows some differences among features of Ck horizons. The most abundant minerals of clay fraction of the studied soil are quartz, illite and kaolinite. Bt horizons of Albic Luvisols have an elevated content of illite.

Four saprotrophic species of macrofungi (Leucoagaricus leucothites, Agaricus bernardii, Agaricus campestris and Agaricus xanthodermus) were collected from 4 sites in the Czech Republic and analyzed for Pb content and Pb isotopic composition. Lead concentrations were relatively high in L. leucothites (up to 130 mg kg (1)) collected in site heavily polluted by a lead smelter, but much lower (0.2-6.5 mg kg (1)) in samples of the Agaricus species collected from urban, rural and pristine areas, respectively. The Pb-206/Pb-207 isotopic ratio in fruit bodies had a wide range of variation, and except for the smelter-polluted site in Pribram, did not reflect that in the organomineral topsoil horizons at particular sites. In the urban area of Prague, a detailed study of Pb uptake was conducted. The Pb-206/Pb-207 isotopic ratio in 19 samples of A. bernardii varied in a surprisingly wide range, from 1.124 to 1.175. In 5 specimens, the majority of ``accumulated'' Pb was undoubtedly transported from the topsoil layers (0-5 cm) characterized by low Pb-206/Pb-207 isotopic ratios, corresponding with gasoline-derived Pb from traffic emissions. In most samples, however, lead must have been transported from lower depths. Since the mycelium of A. bernardii was not restricted to the topsoil but could be detected both visually and using specific PCR even in a depth of 30 cm, such uptake appears to be possible. At suitable sites, Pb isotopes might represent an interesting tool for tracing the fungal uptake and transport of Pb in soils. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The development of soil cover on volcanic rocks in Central and North Bohemia was analyzed. The study was performed in the protected landscape areas on basalt, andesite, and dolerite. Parent material was characterized on the basis of thin-section study. Petrography of the parent material makes it possible to document the differences in the texture, character, and amount of rock-forming minerals. All the studied sequences exhibit the same configuration of soil profiles but various thicknesses. The soil profiles were evaluated on the basis of particle size distribution, chemical properties, soil organic matter parameters, and mineral composition of clay fraction. The major specific pedogenic process in soils developed on volcanic rocks is weathering of parent material and development of the Bw horizon with the formation of mainly smectite from the group of swelling clay minerals. The results revealed differences in the formation of the Bw horizon which is significantly affected by the petrography of the parent material and local geological conditions. According to the type of volcanic rocks, the intensity of the developmental process of the Bw horizon is as follows: andesite (Tyrovicke skaly) > dolerite (Zahrabska) > basalt (Brezina).

Interactions of macrofungi with U, Th, Pb and Ag were investigated in the former ore mining district of Příbram, Czech Republic. Samples of saprotrophic (34 samples, 24 species) and ectomycorrhizal (38 samples, 26 species) macrofungi were collected from a U-polluted Norway spruce plantation and tailings and analyzed for metal content. In contrast to Ag, which was highly accumulated in fruit-bodies, concentrations of U generally did not exceed 3mg/kg which indicates a very low uptake rate and efficient exclusion of U from macrofungi. In ectomycorrhizal tips (mostly determined to species level by DNA sequencing), U contents were practically identical with those of the non-mycorrhizal fine spruce roots. These findings suggest a very limited role of macrofungi in uptake and biotransformation of U in polluted forest soils. Furthermore, accumulation of U, Th, Pb and Ag in macrofungal fruit-bodies apparently does not depend on total content and chemical fractionation of these metals in soils (tested by the BCR sequential extraction in this study).

This study overviews Rendzic Leptosols developed on different limestones of pre-Mesozoic age in protected areas of the Czech Republic, and characterizes their pedogenesis and mineral composition. The parent material originating from unmetamorphosed, low- and high-grade metamorphic rocks (sites Cikanka, Tresin and Vysenske kopce, respectively) was evaluated on the basis thin section of petrography and X-ray diffractometry of powder samples. Representative soil sequences were characterized by macromorphological analysis, particle size distribution, chemical properties, parameters of soil organic matter and mineral composition of clay fraction. Soil formation is limited to the thickness of Ahk horizons. The process of humification is controlled by the source of biomass and biological activity. Tresin and Vysenske kopce have more favourable parameters of humification than Cikanka. Mineral composition of Rendzic Leptosols is significantly affected by the petrography of parent material and local conditions of bedrock. Unmetamorphosed limestones from Cikanka are the most characteristic parent material for the development of Rendzic Leptosols.