丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus mosseae)对玉米吸镉的影响

盆栽试验研究了不同培养条件(土壤与河沙)下,3种施Cd水平(0、5、50 mg kg-1)对菌根玉米生长、根系侵染率及重金属Cd吸收的影响。结果表明:施Cd水平显著影响玉米吸Cd能力。随Cd浓度增加,各处理根系与地上部分Cd浓度和吸收量显著增加,各施Cd水平下玉米根系Cd浓度和吸收量远远高于地上部分。不同培养条件下,各处理也表现出明显的差异。以河沙为培养基质,接种菌根真菌显著增加玉米的生物量及根系侵染率;在高Cd水平下,接种处理玉米根系中的Cd浓度和吸收量较对照显著增加,但地上部分的Cd浓度和吸收量却相应降低。以土壤为培养基质,随施Cd水平提高,植株吸Cd量增加,但接种处理植株根部与地上部Cd浓度均显著低于对照。试验表明,丛枝菌根真菌Glomus mosseae可减少重金属Cd向玉米植株地上部的运输,将更多的Cd固持在菌根之中,这可能是菌根减轻宿主植物Cd毒害的一个重要机制。     

发酵牛粪对苏丹草根系丛枝菌根（AM）真菌侵染及磷吸收效率的影响

通过温室盆栽试验,研究接种苏格兰球囊霉(Glomus caledonium)条件下添加不同比例发酵牛粪(0.33%、0.50%和1.00%)对苏丹草(Sorghum sudanense)根系丛枝菌根(AM)真菌侵染率、土壤孢子密度、植株生物量与根冠比及根系磷(P)吸收效率的影响。结果发现,与对照相比,接种AM真菌处理植株地上部生物量趋于下降、根冠比显著提高(p<0.05),在此基础上添加0.33%或0.50%发酵牛粪处理土壤孢子密度、植株根系生物量和AM真菌侵染率均趋于升高,根冠比没有明显变化,根系P吸收效率显著提高(p<0.05);添加1.00%发酵牛粪显著提高土壤孢子密度、植株生物量和根系AM真菌侵染率(p<0.05),根冠比与仅接种AM真菌处理相同,根系P吸收效率则达到仅接种AM真菌处理的1.83倍。结果表明,添加1.00%发酵牛粪对苏格兰球囊霉扩繁及其宿主植物P吸收均具有突出促进作用。     

砷胁迫条件下接种丛枝菌根真菌对番茄生长和磷吸收的影响

采用盆栽法研究了砷(As)污染条件下(As 0,50,100和200 mg·kg-14个水平)丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)接种对全生育期番茄植株生长及其磷(P)营养的影响。试验中各接种处理均成功侵染,侵染率在11.79%~34.36%之间。砷胁迫显著影响番茄植株的生物量,植株生长过程中各个时期地上部和根系干重均随As添加水平的升高而显著下降。本试验同时发现As 50 mg·kg-1是不接种番茄植株忍受砷毒害的上限,而接种丛枝菌根真菌后,番茄忍受砷毒害的上限上调到100 mg·kg-1;但200 mg·kg-1已达番茄忍受砷毒害的极限。基质中添加砷对番茄植株不同生长时期地上部和根部磷含量有显著影响。除开花期地上部与其不接种处理根部磷含量外,幼苗期和坐果期植株地上部磷含量与根部磷含量均随着砷添加量的增加而呈大致递增趋势。番茄植株生长的各个时期(幼苗期、开花期和坐果期)地上部和根部磷吸收量随砷添加水平的增加呈明显下降趋势。砷污染条件下,接种丛枝菌根在一定程度上促进了植株生长及其对磷的吸收,缓解了砷对植株生长的胁迫。     

丛枝菌根真菌对镉污染土壤中黑麦草幼苗生长的影响

通过不同浓度的镉污染土壤接种丛枝菌根真菌的黑麦草盆栽试验,研究了丛枝菌根真菌对镉污染条件下黑麦草幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:重度镉污染(Cd2+:180 mg/kg)条件下,Glomus mosseae对黑麦草根系的侵染率仍达到30.23%,对黑麦草的生长有较好的促进作用;丛枝菌根在一定程度上缓解了镉污染对黑麦草株高、根长和生物量积累的抑制;镉污染显著降低黑麦草叶片的叶绿素含量,叶绿素a在重度镉污染时下降幅度最大,不接种丛枝菌根真菌的黑麦草较对照下降37.9%,而接种的黑麦草下降26.7%,接种菌根真菌在中重度镉污染条件下显著提高了黑麦草叶片的叶绿素含量;重度镉污染下接种和不接种的黑麦草根系活力都开始显著下降,但接种植株根系活力下降的幅度小于不接种植株。     

隔根与接种 FM 对红壤上玉米/大豆植株生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】探讨接种摩西管柄囊霉 (Funneliformis mosseae,FM) 和不同隔根处理对红壤上间作植株生长、植株氮吸收量和土壤氮的影响。【方法】采用盆栽模拟试验,设不同菌根处理[不接种 (NM)、接种 (FM)]与玉米/大豆不同隔根处理 (根系不分隔、部分分隔、完全分隔)。【结果】接种 FM 的玉米、大豆根系均有一定的侵染,菌根侵染率在部分分隔处理下最低。间作根系的分隔处理对玉米和大豆的菌根依赖性产生了明显影响,大豆的菌根依赖性随间作交互作用强度的加大而增加。无论何种隔根处理,接种 FM 均显著增加了玉米植株生物量,其地上部生物量高出 NM 处理 11.7%～81.4%,根系生物量高出 NM 处理 18.8%～166.7%。根系分隔处理下,接种 FM 均显著降低了大豆生物量。同一隔根方式下,接种 FM 明显提高了玉米的植株氮吸收量和根系氮吸收效率。在不分隔处理下,接种 FM 显著增加了大豆的地上部氮吸收量,但在部分分隔和完全分隔处理下则反而有所下降;在部分分隔处理下,接种 FM 显著降低了大豆根系的氮吸收量,在不分隔和完全分隔处理下亦呈下降趋势。在部分分隔处理下,接种 FM 显著提高了大豆根系氮吸收效率,在完全分隔处理下反而有明显下降,且在 NM–不分隔处理下的大豆根系氮吸收效率最低。相关分析显示,玉米、大豆植株氮吸收量与土壤碱解氮含量呈显著负相关。【结论】接种丛枝菌根真菌 (AMF) 和隔根方式的组合能不同程度地影响玉米和大豆对氮的吸收利用及间作植株的生长,并能对土壤有效氮产生较大影响。所有的复合处理中,AMF和间作根系部分分隔处理组合对玉米和大豆生长及氮素利用的促进作用较好,并能有效降低土壤碱解氮的残留。     

蚯蚓与菌根提高玉米生长和氮磷吸收的互补效应

【目的】蚯蚓和丛枝菌根真菌处于不同的营养级,但在促进植物生长和提高土壤肥力等方面却都发挥着积极作用。研究蚯蚓菌根互作及其对玉米吸收土壤中的氮、磷养分的影响,可为提升土壤生物肥力及促进农业的可持续发展提供理论依据。【方法】本研究采用田间盆栽方式,以玉米为供试作物,研究蚯蚓(Eisenia fetida)与丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus intraradices)互作及其对玉米养分吸收的影响。试验设置P 25和175 mg/kg两个水平。每个磷水平进行接种与不接种菌根真菌以及添加与不添加蚯蚓,共8个处理。调查了玉米生长、养分吸收以及真菌浸染和土壤养分的有效性。【结果】两个磷水平下,蚯蚓和菌根在增加玉米地上部和根系生物量方面有显著正交互作用(P0.05)。接种菌根真菌的各处理显著增加了玉米的侵染率及泡囊丰度、根内菌丝丰度等菌根指标。同时添加蚯蚓和接种菌根真菌的处理(AM+E)显著提高了菌根的侵染率、菌丝密度、丛枝丰度和根内菌丝丰度但是泡囊丰度有所下降。两种磷水平下,AM+E处理玉米地上部和地下部含氮量和含磷量均显著高于其他三个处理。在低磷条件下,地上部氮磷总量的增加分别是添加蚯蚓和接菌的作用;而地下部磷总量的增加主要是菌根真菌的作用。在高磷条件下,单加蚯蚓显著增加玉米氮磷的总量,而接种菌根真菌对玉米氮磷吸收的影响未达显著性水平。在高磷条件下,单加蚯蚓的处理显著提高玉米地上地下部生物量(P0.05),而单接菌的处理效应不显著,蚯蚓菌根互作通过提高土壤微生物量碳、氮实现对玉米生长和养分吸收的调控。在低磷条件下,单接菌显著提高了玉米的生物量(P0.05),单加蚯蚓的处理具有增加玉米生物量的趋势。菌根真菌主要促进玉米对磷的吸收,蚯蚓主要矿化秸秆和土壤中的氮磷养分增加土壤养分的有效性,蚯蚓菌根互作促进了玉米根系对土壤养分的吸收并形成氮磷互补效应。【结论】无论在高磷还是低磷水平下,蚯蚓菌根相互作用都提高了玉米地上地下部生物量、氮磷吸收量同时提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮。蚯蚓菌根相互作用对植物生长的影响取决于土壤养分条件。在高磷条件下(氮相对不足),蚯蚓菌根互作通过调控土壤微生物量碳、氮调控玉米生长和养分吸收。低磷条件下,菌根主要发挥解磷作用,蚯蚓主要矿化秸秆和土壤中的氮素,蚯蚓和菌根互补调控土壤中氮、磷,从而促进植物的生长和养分吸收。     

AM菌对三叶草吸收、累积重金属的影响

采用4室根箱培养系统,探讨了Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd 4种重金属复合污染土壤中,丛枝菌根菌对三叶草生长及吸收、累积重金属的作用,结果表明:重金属Cu 100mg/kg、Zn 600mg/kg、Pb 300mg/kg、Cd 10mg/kg的复合污染对三叶草生物量影响较小,但土壤重金属处理使丛枝菌根菌Glomus intraradices和Glomus caledonium对三叶草的侵染率分别降低53%和56%,菌种G.intraradice的菌丝密度降低73%;接种菌根真菌能明显减少重金属复合污染土壤中三叶草对Cu、Cd和Pb的吸收,并强化根系在限制重金属Pb和Cd向地上部运输中的作用,地上部Pb和Cd含量分别下降24.2%~55.3%和65%~97.9%,使三叶草地上部Cd和Pb含量均低于我国牧草重金属安全含量,提高了三叶草可食部分的质量;不同菌根真菌对三叶草吸收、累积及分配重金属的影响有明显差异,Glomus intraradices对减少三叶草对重金属的吸收及其在地上部可食部分的累积的作用大于Glomus caledonium。丛枝菌根菌对于强化三叶草根系对重金属的固持作用,调节生态系统中重金属的生物循环,减轻重金属对食物链的污染风险方面起着重要作用。     

接种AM真菌对甘薯光合作用及碳磷代谢酶活性的影响

为探讨丛枝菌根真菌和磷水平对甘薯生长特性的影响,采用盆栽试验方法,设置3个P水平(P_0,P_(50),P_(150)mg/kg),研究了接种AM真菌对甘薯生长、光合特性和叶片酶活性的影响。结果表明:接种AM真菌显著增加了甘薯根系侵染率、丛枝丰度、根内菌丝丰度和泡囊丰度。不同磷水平间甘薯的侵染率、丛枝丰度均差异显著,中磷的总体侵染情况显著高于低磷和高磷水平(P0.05)。低磷和中磷条件下,接种处理显著提高了甘薯的生物量和氮磷吸收量(P0.05),其中在磷50mg/kg水平下,接种菌根真菌后甘薯氮磷养分吸收量显著高于未接种处理,地上地下部生物量分别提高了28.6%和73.3%,而高磷条件下接种处理甘薯地上和地下部的生长显著降低。在低磷和中磷水平下,接种AM真菌显著提高了甘薯的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率;在中磷水平下接种AM真菌甘薯叶片的蒸腾速率和气孔导度达到最大值,之后随着磷水平的升高而降低;当土壤磷素供应过高时,接种AM真菌属非气孔限制因素导致的光合速率降低(P0.05)。在低磷和中磷水平下,接种菌根真菌显著提高了甘薯叶片中蔗糖合成酶、6-磷酸葡萄糖酸脱氢酶、蔗糖磷酸合成酶和磷酸酶的活性;在高磷水平下,接种后甘薯叶片代谢酶活性明显降低。不同磷水平下的菌根效应表现为P_(50)P_0P_(150),说明接种菌根的效果受土壤磷水平的影响。     

丛枝菌根真菌对镉胁迫下黑麦草光合生理的响应

为探究镉(Cd)胁迫下丛枝菌根(AM)真菌对黑麦草(Lolium perenne)光合生理的影响,盆栽条件下以Cd浓度为0、5、15和30 mg·kg-1分别对黑麦草接种AM真菌摩西斗管囊霉(FM)、变形球囊霉(GV)、混合处理(FM+GV)以及不接种对照(NM)共16个处理。结果表明,Cd降低了AM真菌侵染;接种AM真菌则提高了黑麦草株高、叶绿素含量、荧光参数、地上部和根系氮(N)、Cd含量,增强光合作用,显著提高植物体内生理活性。在Cd浓度为30 mg·kg-1水平下,FM+GV处理的菌根侵染率最大,为42.7%,与NM相比,FM+GV处理的黑麦草叶片叶绿素含量、地上部和根系N含量分别提高26.2%、70.6%和85.3%;株高和地上干重分别提高34.1%和18.8%;PSⅡ最大光化学效率和PSⅡ潜在活性分别提高4.9%和19.7%;净光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度分别增加19.8%、28.3%和14.7%;超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶活性、可溶性蛋白含量分别是NM的1.3、1.5和1.8倍,丙二醛含量相较NM下降50.0%。土壤中Cd浓度与植株地上部和根内的Cd含量呈显著正相关,FM+GV处理的黑麦草地上部和根系Cd含量分别达到88.1和606.7 mg·kg-1。总体来看,FM+GV处理增加黑麦草光合生理抗性、吸收固持Cd能力的效果最为显著。     

丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus caledonium)对铜污染土壤生物修复机理初探

利用盆栽试验,研究了丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus.caledonium)在不同程度铜污染土壤上对玉米苗期生长的影响。结果表明,即使在土壤施铜量达150mg/kg时,菌根真菌对玉米仍有近55%的侵染率;接种菌根真菌,能显著促进玉米根系的生长。菌根玉米的根系生物量和根系长度,平均较未接种处理分别提高108.4%和58.8%;接种处理的植株地上部生物量达到每盆(3株)10.58g,显著高于不施铜的非菌根玉米。这些结果表明,丛枝菌根真菌对铜污染具有较好的抗性;并且由于菌根的形成,使宿主植物明显地改善了对磷的吸收和运输,并能通过抑制土壤酸化、降低土壤可溶态铜的浓度等机制,增强宿主植物对铜污染的抗(耐)性。在150mg/kg施铜水平时,与非菌根玉米相比,菌根玉米地上部和根系铜浓度分别降低24.3%和24.1%,吸铜量分别提高了28.2%和60.0%,表明菌根植物对铜污染土壤具有一定的生物修复作用。     

丛枝菌根真菌对万寿菊生长、吸镉及生理特性的影响

A pot experiment was carried out to study the effects of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), including Glomus intraradices, Glomus constrictum and Glomus mosseae, on the growth, root colonization and Cd accumulation of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) at Cd addition levels of 0, 5 and 50 mg kg-1 in soil. The physiological characteristics, such as chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content and antioxidant enzyme activity, of Tagetes erecta L. were also investigated. The symbiotic relationship between the marigold plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was well established under Cd stress. The symbiotic relationship was reffected by the better physiobiochemical parameters of the marigold plants inoculated with the three AMF isolates where the colonization rates in the roots were between 34.3% and 88.8%. Compared with the non-inoculated marigold plants, the shoot and root biomass of the inoculated marigold plants increased by 15.2%- 47.5% and 47.8%-130.1%, respectively, and the Cd concentration and accumulation decreased. The chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents in the mycorrhizal marigold plants increased with Cd addition, indicating that AMF inoculation helped the marigold plants to grow by resisting Cd stress. The antioxidant enzymes reacted differently with the three AMF under Cd stress. For plants inoculated with G. constrictum and G. mosseae, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased with increasing Cd addition, but peroxidase (POD) activity decreased with increasing Cd addition. For plants inoculated with G. intraradices, three of the antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly decreased at high levels of Cd addition. Overall, the activities of the three antioxidant enzymes in the plants inoculated with AMF were higher than those of the plants without AMF inoculation under Cd stress. Our results support the view that antioxidant enzymes have a great influence on the biomass of plants, and AMF can improve the capability of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and reduce Cd concentration in plants to alleviate Tagetes erecta L. from Cd stress.     

Mineral uptake and growth of sorghum colonized with VA mycorrhiza at varied soil phosphorus levels

Mineral nutrient uptake can be enhanced in plants inoculated with vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF). The effects of the VAMF Glomus fasciculatum on uptake of P and other mineral nutrients in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were determined in greenhouse experiments for plants grown on a low P (3.6 mg kg^‐1) soil (Typic Argiudolls) with P added at 0, 12.5, 25.0, and 37.5 mg kg^‐1 soil. Enhancements of growth and mineral nutrient uptake because of the VAMF association decreased as soil applications of P increased above 12.5 nig kg^‐1 soil. Root colonization with VAMF without added soil P resulted in increased dry matter yield equivalent to 12.5 mg P kg^‐1 soil (25 kg P ha^‐1). Total root length colonized with VAMF decreased as soil P level increased. Regardless of P added to the soil, mycorrhizal plants had higher leaf P concentrations and contents than did nonmycorrhizal plants. Enhanced contents, but not necessarily concentrations, of the other mineral nutrients were noted in shoots of mycorrhizal compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhizal plants had enhanced shoot contents of P, K, Zn, and Cu which could not be accounted for by increased growth. The VAMF associations with sorghum roots enhanced mineral nutrient uptake when P was sufficiently low in the soil.     

Earthworm (Aporrectodea trapezoides)–mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices) interaction and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by maize

The interactive impacts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomus intraradices) and earthworms (Aporrectodea trapezoides) on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and nutrient uptake were studied under near natural conditions with pots buried in the soil of a maize field. Treatments included maize plants inoculated vs. not inoculated with AMF, treated or not treated with earthworms, at low (25 mg kg⁻¹) or high (175 mg kg⁻¹) P fertilization rate. Wheat straw was added as feed for earthworms. Root colonization, mycorrhiza structure, plant biomass and N and P contents of shoots and roots, soil available P and NO₃⁻–N concentrations, and soil microbial biomass C and N were measured at harvest. Results indicated that mycorrhizal colonization increased markedly in maize inoculated with AMF especially at low P rate, which was further enhanced by the addition of earthworms. AMF and earthworms interactively increased maize shoot and root biomass as well as N and P uptake but decreased soil NO₃⁻–N and available P concentrations at harvest. Earthworm and AMF interaction also increased soil microbial biomass C, which probably improved root N and P contents and indirectly increased the shoot N and P uptake. At low P rate, soil N mobilization by earthworms might have reduced potential N competition by arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphae, resulting in greater plant shoot and root biomass. Earthworms and AMF interactively enhanced soil N and P availability, leading to greater nutrient uptake and plant growth.     

The significant contribution of mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms to maize protection and phytoremediation in Cd-polluted soils

Mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms can individually or interactively influence plant growth and heavy metal uptake. The influence of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi either alone or in combination on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and cadmium (Cd) uptake was investigated in a calcareous soil artificially spiked with Cd. Soils were contaminated with Cd (10 and 20 mg Cd kg⁻¹), inoculated or un-inoculated with the epigeic earthworm Lumbricus rubellus and two AM fungal species (Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae) for two months of growth under greenhouse conditions. Generally, earthworms alone increased both shoot P uptake and biomass but decreased shoot Cd concentration and root Cd uptake. AM fungi individually often increased total maize P uptake, declined shoot Cd concentration, and consequently produced higher total biomass. However, R. irregularis enhanced shoot Cd uptake at low Cd level and root Cd uptake at high Cd level. In plants inoculated with F. mosseae species, earthworms increased shoot biomass and Cd uptake, decreased root biomass and Cd uptake at all Cd levels, and increased shoot Cd concentration at low Cd level. In plants colonized by R. irregularis species, however, earthworm addition decreased maize biomass only at high Cd level and root Cd concentration and total maize Cd uptake at both Cd levels. Earthworm activity decreased Cd transfer from the soil to maize roots at low Cd level, but this was counterbalanced in the presence of F. mosseae. Mycorrhizal symbiosis significantly reduced the transfer of Cd from roots to shoots, independence of earthworm effect. Overall, it is concluded that L. rubellus and AM fungi, in particular F. mosseae isolate, improved maize tolerance to Cd toxicity both individually and interactively by increasing plant growth and P nutrition, and restricting Cd transfer to the aboveground biomass. Consequently, the single and interactive effects of the two soil organisms might potentially be important not only in protecting maize plants against Cd toxicity, but also in Cd phytostabilization in soils polluted by this highly toxic metal.     

接种菌根真菌影响青菜中铅镉的累积和迁移

Heavy metal(HM) contamination in soils is an environmental issue worldwide that threatens the quality and safety of crops and human health. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the growth, mycorrhizal colonization, and Pb and Cd accumulation of pakchoi(Brassica chinensis L. cv. Suzhou) in response to inoculation with three arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi(AMF), Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus versiforme, and Rhizophagus intraradices, aimed at exploring how AMF inoculation affected safe crop production by altering plant-soil interaction. The symbiotic relationship was well established between pakchoi and three AMF inocula even under Pb or Cd stress, where the colonization rates in the roots ranged from 24.5% to 38.5%. Compared with the non-inoculated plants, the shoot biomass of the inoculated plants increased by 8.7%–22.1% and 9.2%–24.3% in Pb and Cd addition treatments, respectively. Both glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP) and polyphosphate concentrations reduced as Pb or Cd concentration increased. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation significantly enhanced total absorbed Pb and Cd(except for a few samples) and increased the distribution ratio(root/shoot) in pakchoi at each Pb or Cd addition level. However, the three inocula significantly decreased Pb concentration in pakchoi shoots by 20.6%–67.5% in Pb addition treatments, and significantly reduced Cd concentration in the shoots of pakchoi in the Cd addition treatments(14.3%–54.1%), compared to the non-inoculated plants.Concentrations of Pb and Cd in the shoots of inoculated pakchois were all below the allowable limits of Chinese Food Safety Standard.The translocation factor of Pb or Cd increased significantly with increasing Pb or Cd addition levels, while there was no significant difference among the three AMF inocula at each metal addition level. Meanwhile, compared with the non-inoculated plants, AMF inocula significantly increased soil p H, electrical conductivity, and Pb or Cd concentrations in soil organic matter in the soils at the highest Pb or Cd dose after harvest of pakchoi, whereas the proportion of bioavailable Pb or Cd fraction declined in the AMF inoculated soil. Our study provided the first evidence that AM fungi colonized the roots of pakchoi and indicated the potential application of AMF in the safe production of vegetables in Pb or Cd contaminated soils.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Contribute to Resistance of Upland Rice to Combined Metal Contamination of Soil

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate heavy metal [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)] uptake by two upland rice cultivars, ‘91B3’ and ‘277’, grown in a sterilized field soil contaminated by a mixture of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. Rice plants were inoculated with each of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Glomus versiforme (GV), Glomus mosseae (GM), and Glomus diaphanum (GD), or remained noninoculated (NM). Both rice cultivars could be colonized by the three AMF used in this experiment. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization by the three AMFs on the two rice cultivars ranged from 30% to 70%. Mycorrhizal colonization of both upland rice cultivars had a large influence on plant growth by increasing the shoot and root biomass compared with non-inoculated (NM) plants. The results indicate that mycorrhiza exert some protective effects against the combined toxicity of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the contaminated soil. This conclusion is supported by the partitioning of heavy metals (HMs) in the two cultivars. In the two cultivars, colonization by AMF reduced the translocation of HMs from root to shoot (except that the colonization of AMF increased the Cu translocation of HMs in cultivar ‘277’). Immobilization of the HMs in roots can alleviate the potential toxicity to shoots induced by the mixture of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. The two rice cultivars showed significant differences in uptake of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd when uninoculated. GM inoculation gave the most protective effects on the two cultivars under the combined soil contamination.     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus supply on the growth and nutrient uptake of Kandelia obovata (Sheue,Liu & Yong) seedlings in autoclaved soil

This study evaluated the interactive effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and exogenous phosphorus supply on soil phosphotases, plant growth, and nutrient uptake of Kandelia obovata (Sheue, Liu & Yong). We aimed to explore the ecophysiological function of AMF in mangrove wetland ecosystems, and to clarify the possible survival mechanism of mangrove species against nutrient deficiency. K. obovata seedlings with or without AMF inoculation (mixed mangrove AMF), were cultivated for six months in autoclaved sediment medium which was supplemented with KH₂PO₄ (0, 15, 30, 60, 120 mg kg−¹). Then the plant growth, nitrogen and phosphorus content, root vitality, AMF colonization and soil phosphatase activity were analyzed. The inoculated AMF successfully infected K. obovata roots, developed intercellular hyphae, arbuscular (Arum-type), and vesicle structures. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization ranged from 9.04 to 24.48%, with the highest value observed under 30 and 60 mg kg⁻¹ P treatments. Soil P supply, in the form of KH₂PO₄, significantly promoted the height and biomass of K. obovata, enhanced root vitality and P uptake, while partially inhibiting soil acid (ACP) and alkaline phosphotase (ALP) activities. Without enhancing plant height, the biomass, root vitality and P uptake were further increased when inoculated with AMF, and the reduction on ACP and ALP activities were alleviated. Phosphorus supply resulted in the decrease of leaf N–P ratio in K. obovata, and AMF inoculation strengthened the reduction, thus alleviating P limitation in plant growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and adequate P supply (30 mg kg⁻¹ KH₂PO₄) enhanced root vitality, maintained soil ACP and ALP activities, increased plant N and P uptake, and resulted in greater biomass of K. obovata. Mutualistic symbiosis with AMF could explain the survival strategies of mangrove plants under a stressed environment (waterlogging and nutrient limitation) from a new perspective.     

Responses of directly seeded wetland rice to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation

The mycorrhizal enhancement of plant growth is generally attributed to increased nutrients uptake. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the growth and nutrient uptake of directly seeded wetland rice. Seeds were germinated and inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or left uninoculated. The plants were grown at 60% of ‐0.03 MPa to establish the mycorrhizas. After 5 weeks, half of the pots were harvested and the rest were flooded with deionized water to maintain 3–5 cm of standing water until harvesting (122 days after sowing). Mycorrhizal fungal colonization of rice roots was 36.2% at harvest. Mycorrhizal fungi inoculated rice seedlings grew better compared to uninoculated seedlings and had increased grain yield (10%) at the harvesting stage. Shoot and root growth were effectively increased by AMF inoculation at the harvesting stage. The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition of direct seeding wetland rice were significantly increased by AMF inoculation. The AMF enhanced N and P translocation through the hyphae from soils to roots/shoots to grains effectively.     

Earthworm-mycorrhiza interaction on Cd uptake and growth of ryegrass

The effects of inoculation of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhiza separately, and in combination, on Cd uptake and growth of ryegrass were studied in soils contaminated with 0, 5, 10, 20 mg of Cd kg⁻¹ soil. Both earthworms and mycorrhiza were able to survive in all the treatments with added Cd. Earthworm activity significantly increased mycorrhizal infection rate of root and ryegrass shoot biomass. Earthworm activity decreased soil pH by about 0.2 units, and enhanced root Cd concentration and ryegrass Cd uptake. Mycorrhiza inoculation increased shoot and root Cd concentration substantially, and at the highest dosage of 20 mg Cd kg⁻¹ decreased biomass of ryegrass. Inoculation of both earthworms and mycorrhiza increased ryegrass shoot Cd uptake at low Cd concentrations (5 and 10 mg Cd kg⁻¹ soil), when compared with inoculation of earthworms or mycorrhiza alone. In conclusion, earthworm, mycorrhiza and their interaction may have a potential role in elevating phytoextraction efficiency in low to medium level metal contaminated soil.     

Mycorrhizal colonization associated with roots of field-grown maize does not decline with increasing plant-available phosphorus

Maize roots are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, but less mycorrhizal symbiosis is expected as the plant-available phosphorus (P) concentration of soil increases, based on greenhouse and growth bench experiments. The objective of this study was to evaluate maize root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a sandy loam soil with a gradient of plant-available P concentrations resulting from P fertilizer inputs. The field experiment received inorganic and organic P fertilizers for 3 years, and this created a 20-fold difference in the plant-available P concentration, from 12 to 204 mg Mehlich-3 extractable P kg⁻¹. The proportion of maize roots colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased from 26 ± 2% during vegetative growth (V8 and VT growth stages) to 46 ± 2% in the reproductive R2 and R6 stages. The P fertilizer input did not affect maize root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. More arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization of maize roots occurred in soil with increasing plant-available P concentrations (r = .12, p = .05, n = 237), and this was associated with greater P uptake in the maize shoots (r = .53, p < .001, n = 240). We conclude that the root-mycorrhizal symbiosis was more strongly related to maize growth than the plant-available P concentration under field conditions.