The current contract concerns an FWO-aspirant contract of Jan Wevers with prof. dr. J. Colpaert as promotor for the period between 01.10.2007 and 30.09.2009. The project means to chart the functional diversity in ECM fungiconcerning Fe-intake and transfer to the host plant, the Scots fir. Simultaneously the influence is measured of toxic Zn concentrations on the Fe-nutrition of the mycorrhized host. On the one hand a field study is programmed in which Fe- and Zn-intake and fractioning in firs is studied in well characterized test parcels beside a Zn-gradient in Northern Limburg. On the other hand laboratory experiments are performed to characterize Fe- and Zn-fluxes in mycorryized plants. In a last phase studies will be conducted charting the mechanisms responsible for the intake of Fe in selected ECM fungi.