Isozyme expression of nutrient-mobilizing and defence-related enzymes were examined in different functional components of intact Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) ectomycorrhizal root systems developed in natural unsterilized forest humus. Scots pine seedlings colonized by Suillus bovinus (L. ex Fr.) O. Kuntze or Paxillus involutus (Batsch ex Fr.) strains were grown on humus in two-dimensional Perspex[target] microcosms to allow development of complete ectomycorrhizal root systems. Soluble proteins from uncolonized short roots, whole mycorrhizal root tips or dissected mantle and core fractions, fungal strands and the outermost soil colonizing fine hyphae were subjected to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stained to detect esterase, acid phosphatase, peroxidase and different polyphenoloxidase isozyme activities. Tissue-specific esterase isozymes were detected in all components and most, including unique Hartig net isozymes, were of fungal origin. High fungal acid phosphatase activities were detected in mycorrhiza and fine hyphae of S. bovinus, supporting earlier findings of active phosphatase activity at the fungal interface in the Hartig net region and in the fine hyphal margins of extramatrical mycelium actively colonizing the humus. All compartments in the P. involutus mycorrhizosphere had weaker acid-phosphatase activities. Peroxidases formed a large part of the soluble-protein content in non-mycorrhizal short roots. The amount of peroxidases, on a tissue f. wt basis, was similar in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots, but differential isozyme expression was detected, indicating a change in root peroxidase activities following mycorrhiza formation. The expression of DL-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine metabolizing polyphenol oxidase enzymes was reduced in mycorrhizas compared with non-mycorrhizal short roots. In the extramatrical mycelial components, fine hyphae expressed the highest polyphenoloxidase activity. P. involutus displayed some polyphenol-oxidizing isoenzymes not detected in S. bovinus systems. Laccase activity was not detected in the plant and fungal components examined. It is concluded that enzyme activities and isozyme expression are differentially regulated in the different functional components of Scots pine mycorrhizospheres.