The purpose of this work was to gain an insight on the potential role of the 
phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in the 
translocation of metals and metalloids from soil to plant roots in tomato 
(Lycopersicum esculentum). Two varieties of tomato (one susceptible and another 
resistant to infection by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) were challenged 
with the fungus for different periods of time, and several elements (V, Cr, Mn, 
Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Pb) were determined in roots and in soil 
substrate. Additionally, phenolic plant products were also analyzed for the 
evaluation of the plant response to biotic stress. In order to obtain 
representative results for plants cultivated in noncontaminated environments, 
the infected and control plants were grown in commercial soil with natural, 
relatively low metal concentrations, partly associated with humic substances. 
Using such an experimental design, a specific role of the fungus could be 
observed, while possible effects of plant exposure to elevated concentrations of 
heavy metals were avoided. In the infected plants of two varieties, the root 
concentrations of several metals/metalloids were increased compared to control 
plants; however, the results obtained for elements and for phenolic compounds 
were significantly different in the two plant varieties. It is proposed that 
both Lycopersicum esculentum colonization by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. 
lycopersici and the increase of metal bioavailability due to fungus-assisted 
solubilization of soil humic substances contribute to element traffic from soil 
to roots in tomato plant.