Surface phosphatase activity of Sitka spruce mycorrhizas from a serpentine site

The p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity of mycorrhizal roots of Sitka spruce from a phosphorus deficient site was inversely proportional to the concentrations of 0.5 n acetic acid-extractable phosphorus in the decaying organic matter from which the roots were removed. This is interpreted as the derepression of phosphatase synthesis under conditions of inorganic P deficiency and is discussed in relation to the possible roles of mycorrhizal surface phosphatase activity.