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Heavy metals, Zn and Cu, in high concentration (2 mM for Zn and 0.5 mM for Cu) have some inhibiting effect on the growth of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium citrinum. Toxic effects of these metals considerably depend on cultivation conditions including nitrogen sources, pH of nutrient media, and its consistency (presence or absence of agar). In general, nitrate media provides less inhibiting effect on fungal growth under heavy metal exposure than ammonium-containing media. Adding of Zn in nitrate media induces oxalic acid production by fungi. Importance of oxalic acid production in detoxification of heavy metals is confirmed by the formation of Zn-containing crystals in fungal cultures. Cu bringing to the cultural media had no stimulating effect on oxalic acid production as well as no copper-containing crystals were observed. But proceeding from essential increase in oxalic acid production during a long-term fungi adaptation to Cu, it may be proposed that oxalic acid plays some functional role in Cu tolerance of fungi as well. It may be concluded that the role of organic acids and oxalate, in particular, in fungi tolerance and adaptation to heavy metals can be determined by the nature of the metal and its ability to form stable complexes with an acid anion. Stimulating effect of metals on acid production is not universal for all species of fungi and largely depends on metal concentration, nitrogen form in a medium, and other cultivation conditions.

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The water-soluble fullerenols are novel carbon-based nanomaterials with unique properties, which afford them with wide agricultural applications. Iron (Fe) deficiency is the most common and widespread nutrition disorder affecting plants. Foliar Fe treatments of plants have been carried out with solutions devoid of fullerenol. In this study, the role of fullerenol [C 60 (OH) 22-24 ] in alleviation of Fe deficiency in Cucumis sativus (a Strategy I plant) via foliar fertilization was investigated. Cucumber plants were grown hydroponically, either with (Fe) or in Fe-free (−Fe) nutrient solution. The following foliar spray treatments were applied: fullerenol at final concentrations of 1 (F1) and 10 (F10) mg L-1 ; Fe(II)SO 4 ·7H 2 O; Fe(II)-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid); and Fe(II)-F1 and Fe(II)-F10. The best used compound was a combination of Fe(II)-sulfate with fullerenol, especially Fe-F1. The addition of fullerenol to Fe(II)-sulfate solutions significantly increased leaf-active Fe (extracted by an Fe(II) chelator) and re-greening at the site of application. The fullerenol-induced mutual influences did not appear when fullerenol was sprayed alone, suggesting a beneficial role of Fe(II)-fullerenol interactions in the penetration of Fe(II) in the leaves and re-greening under Fe-limited conditions. The results are of importance to enhancing the potential of foliar Fe fertilization as the commonly used strategy for ameliorating Fe deficiency and improving crop yield and quality.