Inorganic Bromide in Higher Fungi

A total of 138 samples o f higher fungi, representing 35 species (15 belonging to the genus Amanita), were analysed for the trace element bromine using spectrophotom etric and gas chromatographic methods. High concentrations o f bromine, up to 100 m g/kg on dry weight, were encountered in Amanitaceae, especially in members o f the subsections Phalloideae and Eu-Amanita, whereas in other fungi the mean value for this elem ent was only 3,3 m g/kg. Some bromine-accumulating Amanitas also contained unusually high chlorine levels. A m axi­ mum concentration o f 3 percent on dry weight was measured in A. phalloides. It could be demonstrated that most, if not all o f brom ine and chlorine was present in the fungi as ionisable inorganic salts. Two organochlorine m etabolites, previously reported in som e mush­ rooms, were absent in A. phalloides and A. muscaria.