The role of the arbuscular mycorrhizal maize (zea mays l.)‎ and phosphorus levels in the phytoremediation of zinc contaminated soil

Abstract EN

The factorial experiment under greenhouse condition was conducted to investigate the effects of AMF on phytoremediation of zinc contaminated soil.

Maize plants inoculated and non-inoculated with Glomus mossea were grown under five levels of Zinc addition (0, 100, 300, 600, and 900 mg kg(-1) ) and three levels of phosphorus addition (0, 25, 50 mg kg^(-1)).

No mycorrhizal colonization was detected in the roots of non-inoculated plants.

The higher value of colonized roots in inoculated plants was in treatment (+MP0Zn4) 69% while the lower value was in the treatment (+MP2Zn3) 35%.

An addition of phosphorus fertilization significantly decrease colonization rate of roots.

Inoculation with AMF increased shoots and roots dry matter weight, Zn uptake in shoots and phosphorus concentration and uptake in shoots and roots.

Inoculation with AMF decreases Zn concentration in shoots and increases Zn concentration in roots in moderate and high levels of Zn addition.

Dry matter weight of shoots and roots significantly decreases with increase of Zinc addition in non mycorhizal plants; however, there is no significant effect of the zinc addition on shoots and roots dry matter weight in mycorrhizal plants.

These results are good evidence that AMF increases host plant tolerance to Zn contamination.

An addition of phosphorus increases shoots and roots dry matter, phosphorus concentration and uptake.

This study suggests that AMF protect maize plants from Zn toxicity and enhance phytoremediation of Zn contaminated soil by two mechanisms: dilutions effects and accumulate Zn in roots and fungi mycelium.