Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from mining area on the enhancement of Cd uptake in marigold plants

Abstract:

In a pot experiment, effects were investigated of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from soil of a mining area on root colonization and biomass, Cd uptake and translocation of Tagetes erecta L. under different Cd addition levels (0, 5, 20, 50 μg/g). Results indicated that mycorrhizal inoculation significanty increased root colonization and biomass of marigold plants. Plant Cd concentrations markedly increased with increasing Cd addition levels. For all treatments, shoot Cd contents were significantly higher than root Cd contents, while under each Cd addition level shoot Cd contents of inoculated plants were significantly higher than those of uninoculated controls. Especially, under Cd addition level of 50 μg/g, shoot to root ratio of Cd content in inoculated plants was 3.48, in contrast to 1.67 for uninoculated plants. In general, inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from contaminated soil can increase Cd uptake in plants and enhance Cd translocation from roots to shoots, showing promises in phytoextraction.