Concentrations of terpenes in mycorrhizal roots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings grown in vitro

The effect of Paxillus involutus, Laccaria laccata, Suillus luteus, S. bovinus, Hebeloma crustuliniforme and a strain of the ectendomycorrhizal fungus Mrg X (Ascomycotina) on the content of volatile organic compounds in roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings grown in vitro was investigated. Volatile compounds extracted with a supercritical fluid extraction were primarily terpenes and sesquiterpenes and qualitatively were the same in roots of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. The major monoterpenes were alpha-pinene, Delta(3)-carene and beta-pinene. Inoculation of plants with the fungi resulted in statistically non-significant increases in the total amount of the volatiles. The mycorrhizal fungi showed diversified effect on the concentrations of several terpenoids.