Real‐time measurement of uptake and translocation of ¹³⁷Cs within mycelium of Schizophyllum commune Fr. by autoradiography followed by quantitative image analysis

SUMMARY A new technique, autoradiography followed by quantitative image analysis, provides a powerful, non‐destructive method for measurement of radiolabel distribution and translocation throughout: fungal mycelia. Using this technique radio caesium was found to be translocated by bulk flow in actively expanding mycelium of S. commune but by diffusion in established mycelium in microcosms. Differentiation of hyphae to form primordia in preparation for basidiocarp production was found to introduce heterogeneity into the distribution of radio caesium in mycelia which could later be reversed by diffusion. Mycelium of S. commune was not conservative for radiocaesium, losing significant amounts to the medium; it is suggested that binding to soil particles may be more significant in terms of long‐term retention of this radionuclide in the environment. These processes may account in part for the high and variable concentrations of radiocaesium found in mushrooms in the environment.