The project focuses on the physiological and molecular study of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus with the main objective the identification of the physiological and genetic determinants of the Cd tolerance. The accumulation, uptake kinetics and the cellular compartmentation of Cd will be investigated. Metabolites involved in sequestration of Cd or in the homeostasis of the redox balance of the cells will be studied. In addition, the significance of the fungal Cd tolerance for a host plant, Pinus sylvestris, will be investigated.