Differences in mycorrhizal infection and P uptake of sweet potato cultivars (Ipomoea batatas L.) during their early growth in three soils

Summary Mycorrhizal infection in the roots of 10 sweet potato cultivars was assessed 7 weeks after planting in three soils collected from Ibadan, Fashola and Onne in southern Nigeria, three soils which contained 21.0, 7.8 and 54.8 mg P kg^–1, respectively. Mycorrhizal infection averaged 17% in the soil from Ibadan, 24% in the soil from Fashola and 7% in the acid soil from Onne. The plants grown in the Fashola soil contained the same percentage of P as plants grown in the Onne soil. Although the percentage of P in sweet potato was lowest in the Ibadan soil, shoot dry weights were 35% higher in this soil than in the other two soils. There was no correlation between the level of mycorrhizal infection and plant dry weight in the partially sterilized soil from Ibadan. Sweet potato inoculated in this soil with infected roots of Leucaena leucocephala showed a higher level of mycorrhizal infection than uninoculated plants. Dry-matter production was, however, the same for all treatments. The sweet potato cultivars differed in their level of mycorrhizal infection and in their response to applied P. Cultivars TIS 2498 and TIS 70357 consistently showed the lowest percentage of infection; and TIb 4, TIS 8441 and TIS 8524 showed infection levels above 20% in the Fashola and Ibadan soils. When the low-yielding cultivar, TIb 4, and an improved clone, TIS 9265, were grown in the presence of 50 and 100 mg single superphosphate per kg soil, TIb 4 produced more dry matter in the presence of P fertilizer than it did without the fertilizer. Growth and mycorrhizal infection of TIS 9265 were not affected by the fertilizer.     

Alleviation of noxious effects of cattle ranch composts on wheat seed germination by inoculation with Azospirillum spp.

Two commonly-used composts from dairy cow manure that are used to improve poor structure and fertility of desert soils have inhibitory effects on wheat seed germination, probably as a result of their high levels of humic acids. Inoculation of wheat seeds with two species of the plant growth-promoting bacteria Azospirillum brasilense Cd and A. lipoferum JA4 (separately) prior to sowing in these amended soils improved germination, similar to the natural level of germination of seeds in desert soil without compost amendment. Both compost amendments increased height of wheat seedlings in the range of 20–25%, increased shoot dry weight by 15–19%, but severely decreased (51–54% less) root dry weight. Inoculation of wheat seeds with A. brasilense Cd, but not with A. lipoferum JA4, significantly increased plant growth parameters (height, shoot and root dry weight) over control plants grown in soil-compost mixtures. This bacterial species could survive for a period of 20 days in compost humic acid solution, could increase its population when the humic acids served as the sole carbon source, and may change the composition of humic acids in which it grows. We suggest that inoculation with A. brasilense may alleviate noxious effects on germinating seeds caused by compost application by possibly transforming the composition of humic acids in the compost.     

4种改良剂对铅锌尾矿污染土壤中光叶紫花苕生长及重金属吸收特性的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了铅锌尾矿污染土壤中施用有机肥、石灰、蛭石和白云石等4种改良剂对光叶紫花苕生长发育、叶绿素及重金属Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn积累特性的影响,并分析了施用改良剂后土壤pH和有效态重金属含量的变化。结果表明,与对照相比,不同改良剂及其不同施用水平均能不同程度地提高土壤pH,显著降低土壤各重金属有效态含量,并显著抑制了Cd、Pb向光叶紫花苕地上部转移,降低了重金属在光叶紫花苕植株地上部的积累,改善了光叶紫花苕的生长和发育,光叶紫花苕株高、地上部鲜重和地下部鲜重、叶绿素含量均有不同程度增加,其中株高和地上部鲜重增加达到显著水平。4种改良剂的不同处理水平对光叶紫花苕地下部重金属含量影响均达显著水平。     

Influence of inorganic N on mycorrhizal activity,nodulation, and growth ofLeucaena leucocephalain an oxisol subjected to simulated erosion

Abstract

The influence of inorganic N on the development of mycorrhizal symbiosis inLeucaena leucocephala(Lam.) de Wit was studied in an Oxisol subjected to simulated erosion. The plants were grown in pots containing soil samples inoculated with the VAM fungusGlomus aqgregatumand amended with 0, 25, 50 or 100 ppm N. The extent of VAM colonization of roots increased with increasing levels of N in both eroded and uneroded soils. However, the level of infection was significantly higher in the eroded soil than in the uneroded one. Mycorrhizal activity monitored in terms of P content of leucaena subleaflets increased significantly in the eroded soil when it was amended with 25 ppm N and became similar to that observed in the uneroded soil. Nodule dry matter production and shoot N concentration increased significantly with N application upto 50 ppm. Above this level of N, nodule dry weight declined while N concentration did not change. Application of 25 ppm N to the eroded soil also significantly increased shoot and root dry weights while no change was observed in the uneroded soil. A further increase in N level did not improve yield. The results illustraste the potential benefits of starter N in the establishment of mycorrhizal and nodulatedLeucaena leucocephalain eroded soils     

Influence of fungal-soil water interactions on phytophthora root rot of alfalfa

Summary Phytophthora root rot of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a serious problem in wet soils. This disease is caused by Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. medicaginis. The influence of soil-water interactions with P. megasperma f. sp. medicaginis and other factors on the severity of phytophthora root rot of mature alfalfa plants (10–12 weeks) was studied in greenhouse experiments. Severe and reproducible root rot was produced by subsurface (3–4 cm) placement of mycelial suspension. Soil saturation 3 days prior to inoculation followed by alternating 3-day wet (soil saturation) and 4-day dry (surface watering once a day) moisture regimes (for 30–40 days following inoculation) resulted in severe root damage.The severity of root rot was greater when the inoculation was done at an ambient temperature of 20°C than at 15°C. Water quality (tap water or deionized distilled water) had no effect on severity of infection. The isolates PT 78-3 (Minnesota) and TN-2 (Maryland) were equally effective in terms of severity of damage.The impact of excess soil water stress (described above) alone on the shoot and root dry weight as well as on shoot symptoms was similar to that of root rot stress. However, root symptoms showed a marked difference. A close examination of root symptoms is highly recommended to differentiate clearly the plant injury due to root rot from that due to excess soil water stress.     

根际促生菌Bacillus subtilisY-IVI在香草兰上的应用效果研究

【目的】香草兰为多年生热带经济作物,随着种植年限的增加,植株长势弱,土壤有益微生物减少,土壤微生物区系失衡,严重制约了香草兰产业的可持续发展。枯草芽孢杆菌作为一种根际促生菌,被广泛应用于促进作物生长,改善土壤微生物环境。本文将枯草芽孢杆菌Y-IVI接种在有机肥上,生产了生物有机肥,并就该生物有机肥对香草兰生长的影响进行了研究。【方法】采用温室盆栽试验,调查施用根际促生菌枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)Y-IVI及其经固体发酵制得的微生物有机肥料(Y-IVI:3×108cfu/g)后,香草兰植株地上部及根系的生长状况,采用选择性培养基方法研究了Y-IVI在香草兰根际土壤中的定殖能力及对香草兰根茎腐病致病菌-尖孢镰刀菌数量的影响。【结果】施用Y-IVI及BIO 4个月后,香草兰根际土壤Y-IVI数量仍可达到106cfu/g土,二者无显著差异,在处理OF和对照中未检测到菌株Y-IVI。施用生物有机肥香草兰地上部干重和根系干重均显著高于对照,分别增加了63.1%和59.4%,与不接种Y-IVI的有机肥处理(OF)相比,地上部干重显著提高了43.2%,根系干重提高了18%,差异不显著;施用Y-IVI菌液的处理植株地上部干重和根系干重均高于对照,但无显著性差异;处理BIO根系直径、根系表面积和总体积与对照相比分别增加了41.9%、88.9%和80.4%,均显著高于对照,总根长与对照差异不显著;处理BIO根系表面积和总体积与有机肥处理OF相比分别显著增加了41.9%和30.8%,根系直径与OF相比增加了10.1%,差异不显著;处理Y-IVI根系直径与对照相比显著增加了25.5%,但根系表面积和总体积与对照差异不显著;与对照相比,施用BIO及Y-IVI的处理根际土壤尖孢镰刀菌数量分别明显降低了52.2%和41.8%,施用有机肥OF的处理降低了10%,差异不显著。【结论】Y-IVI可稳定定殖于香草兰根际土壤对其生长起有益作用,含促生菌Y-IVI的生物有机肥料比单独使用促生菌菌液可以更有效地减少根际土壤中尖孢镰刀菌数量,降低连作生物障碍。施用生物有机肥料比施用化肥和有机肥更有效地促进香草兰地上部及根系生长,因此,施用由根际促生菌枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)Y-IVI制得的生物有机肥是解决香草兰连作生物障碍和提高收益的有效手段。     

Mycorrhizal colonization and nutrition of wheat and sweet corn grown in manure‐treated and untreated topsoil and subsoil

Dry bean yields (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were raised to similar levels as the topsoil by manure application to eroded or leveled Portneuf silt loam soil (coarse‐silty mixed mesic Durixerollic Calciorthid). Only soil organic matter and zinc (Zn) content of leaf tissue were correlated with improved yields. Manure application increased mycorrhizal colonization and Zn uptake in pot experiments with dry bean which would explain the increased yields in the field. A field study was conducted to see if similar effects of manure and mycorrhizal colonization could be observed in field grown spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.). This study was conducted on existing experiments established in the spring of 1991 at the USDA‐ARS farm in Kimberly, Idaho, to study crop rotation/organic matter amendment treatments on exposed subsoils and focused on mycorrhizal colonization as related to topsoils and subsoils treated with conventional fertilizer (untreated) or dairy manure. Mycorrhizal root colonization was higher with untreated than with manure‐treated wheat and sweet corn. Root colonization was also higher in subsoil than in topsoil for wheat, but there were no differences between soils for sweet corn. Shoot Zn and manganese (Mn) concentrations generally increased with increased root colonization for both species (except between soils with corn Mn contents). Wheat shoot potassium (K) concentration was increased by manure application, but the affect declined with time, was the opposite of colonization and was not observed with sweet com. Phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) concentrations either were not influenced or were erratically affected by mycorrhizal colonization. Yields of wheat were highest for manure‐treated subsoil and topsoil compared to untreated soils. Mycorrhizal colonization was different between conventional and manure‐treated soils and between topsoil and subsoil and these differences increased Zn and Mn uptake, but they did not explain the improvement in wheat yields obtained with manure application.     

有机肥与种植密度对旱作玉米根系生长及功能的影响

在大田条件下研究了基施有机肥及3种种植密度（60,75,90千株/hm2）对旱作玉米根系生长和功能的影响。结果表明,在大喇叭口期,基施有机肥显著降低了30—100cm土层内的根长与根表面积,但对根干重影响不显著;由于基施有机肥处理地上部生物量更大,因而显著降低了根冠比;种植密度对该时期根系生长的影响较小。在蜡熟期,基施有机肥限制了30—100cm土层及1/4行间、行间与膜下位置的根系分布,但对根冠比的作用不显著。该时期根长、根表面积及根干重均有随密度增加而减少的趋势,该趋势在0—30cm土层和株上位置表现显著;种植密度的增加也降低了根冠比。有机肥延缓根系衰老作用不明显,其根系导水率与不基施有机肥处理无显著差异;而在种植密度增加情况下,单位根系表面积吸水功能的提高弥补了根量减少带来的损失,表现出一定的适应性。     

Green manure production of Azolla microphylla and Sesbania rostrata and their long-term effects on rice yields and soil fertility

Summary Azolla spp. and Sesbania spp. can be used as green manure crops for wetland rice. A long-term experiment was started in 1985 to determine the effects of organic and urea fertilizers on wetland rice yields and soil fertility. Results of 10 rice croppings are reported. Azolla sp. was grown for 1 month and then incorporated before transplanting the rice and 3–4 weeks after transplanting the rice. Sesbania rostrata was grown for 7–9 weeks and incorporated only before transplanting the rice. Sesbania sp. grew more poorly before dry season rice than before wet season rice. Aeschynomene afraspera, which was used in one dry season rice trial, produced a larger biomass than the Sesbania sp. The quantity of N produced by the Azolla sp. ranged from 70 to 110 kg N ha^-1. The Sesbania sp. produced 55–90 kg N ha^-1 in 46–62 days. Rice grain yield increases in response to the green manure were 1.8–3.9 t ha^-1, similar to or higher than that obtained in response to the application of 60 kg N ha^-1 as urea. Grain production per unit weight of absorbed N was lower in the green manure treatments than in the urea treatment. Without N fertilizer, N uptake by rice decreased as the number of rice crops increased. For similar N recoveries, Sesbania sp. required a lower N concentration than the Azolla sp. did. Continuous application of the green manure increased the organic N content in soil on a dry weight basis, but not on a area basis, because the application of green manure decreased soil bulk density. Residual effects in the grain yield and N uptake of rice after nine rice crops were found with a continuous application of green manure but not urea.     

The effect of soil liming on shoot development, root growth, and cluster root activity of white lupin

 The effects of a limed soil upon root and shoot growth of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) were investigated using soil tubes and pots. After 75 days in the soil tubes, the combined taproot and lateral root dry weight in limed soil (2.5% CaO w/w) was significantly less than in neutral pH soil (by 57%). However, the dry weight and numbers of cluster roots remained comparable between the treatments, demonstrating for the first time that the cluster roots respond differently to the rest of the root system. Cluster roots accounted for 17% of the total root biomass in neutral soil, increasing significantly to over 30% in limed soil. When grown for 43 days in pots containing soil with different additions of lime (0.5–2.5% CaO w/w), soil citrate concentrations were higher than in the neutral pH soil treatment in all except the 2.5% lime treatment, in which they were lower. In both experiments, shoot dry weights were lower in the presence of the limed soil compared with those in the neutral pH soil. Although a reduction in shoot dry weight was not apparent at 21 days in the limed-soil tubes, the initiation of fewer mainstem leaf primordia indicated a slower shoot development than occurred in the neutral soil. Plants grown in the limed-soil tubes showed leaf yellowing and some chlorosis within 9 days. At the final harvest, the shoot phosphorus and manganese concentrations were significantly lower in plants grown in limed soil compared with those in the neutral pH soil, whereas the concentration of calcium was higher. Received: 11 October 1999     

Corn growth response to K fertilization on three compacted soils

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to K fertilization on Kewaunee silty clay loam, Plainfield loamy sand, and Plano silt loam soils compacted to two bulk density levels. Treatments were established in a factorial combination of two soil bulk density levels, three soil K levels, with and without banded placement of K. Increasing soil bulk density did not affect the height growth of the corn on any soil, but did increase shoot dry matter weight on the Kewaunee soil. Root dry matter was reduced by increased soil bulk density on the Kewaunee soil. The shoot/ root ratio was greater at the higher bulk density on all soils. Increasing soil K increased the shoot dry matter content on all soils and increased root dry matter content on the Kewaunee and Plano soils. The banded K treatment did not affect height growth or dry matter accumulation. Shoot K concentration was reduced at the higher soil bulk density on the Kewaunee and Plano soils. Both methods of K application increased the K concentration of the shoots on all soils.     

Relationships between shoot and root characteristics of white clover cultivars differing in response to phosphorus

Root dry weight and the relationship between shoot and root characteristics for 119 white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars and breeding lines were examined at five (40, 120, 200, 400, and 500 mg P/kg soil) phosphorus (P) levels. There were significant (P<0.01) differences among cultivars for root dry weight and root/shoot ratio. Instantaneous root/shoot ratio decreased with increasing P supply up to 200 mg P/kg, and then increased again from 400 to 500 mg P/kg soil. Allometric analysis indicated that root growth relative to shoot growth increased with increasing P supply. There was a significant (P<0.01) cultivar x P level interaction such that for the cultivars, the root/shoot ratio was either unaffected, increasing, or decreasing with increasing level of P supply. However, root/shoot ratio appeared to be unrelated to the functions used to describe the P response of the 119 cultivars studied. Shoot characters such as dry weight, leaf number, and stolon length were most closely correlated with root dry weight at the moderately low P levels of 120 and 200 mg added P/kg, where average P response was 9 and 24% of yields at 500 mg P/kg soil, respectively, rather than at the higher P levels. Root/shoot ratio was significantly correlated (r>0.6) with root dry weight over all P levels but not with any of the measured shoot characters (‐0.2> r <0.3).     

Use of poultry manure and plant cultivation for the reclamation of burnt soils

Annual (Pisum sativum L. and Vicia sativa L.) and perennial (Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) leguminous species were grown in pots containing samples from the ash layers of two Cambisols under Pinus sylvestris L., which has been affected by high-intensity wildfires 3 and 15 days before the sampling. The gramineous Lolium perenne L. was cultivated as a second plant after Trifolium and Lotus harvesting. Three treatments were compared: soils without fertilization and soils fertilized with two doses of poultry manure (1 and 2 g total N kg^-1 dry soil). The aim of the work was to study the capacity of the ash layer to sustain vegetation and the influence of plants and organic manure on the recovery of vegetation cover, ash layer fixation and soil structure formation to avoid erosion. The ash samples were able to sustain vegetation without fertilization. The organic manure increased the yields of all the plants tested, the lower dose being the optimal for the first crop whereas the higher dose was beneficial for the second crop. The annual legumes grew very quickly. The mixture of Trifolium and Lotus seemed very suitable for reclamation of soil degraded by wildfires because Trifolium produced more phytomass than Lotus in the first growing stages whereas the development of Lotus was higher in the later growing stages. Ash layer conditions did not inhibit nodulation, which was, however, stimulated by the organic manure, particularly in the case of Lotus. Lolium after perennial legumes was the best plant combination because it produced the highest phytomass, particularly root phytomass, and thus improved vegetation cover and ash layer fixation. All the plants tested improved the formation of soil aggregates, particularly the combination of perennial legumes and Lolium. However, wet aggregate stability was higher when plants were grown on soils fertilized with poultry manure than when plants were cropped on unmanured soils, which points to the favourable influence of the organic manure on soil aggregation.     

Influence of acid soil on nodule numbers in relation to polyamine and tannin concentrations in roots of Phaseolus vulgaris

The relationship between soil acidity and polyamine (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) concentrations in roots was evaluated and compared to (1) nodule numbers in common beans and (2) tannin concentrations in roots. Six Phaseolus vulgaris cultivars were grown in pots in a greenhouse in soil at pH 4.5 or 5.5 and inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli strains. At pH 4.5 nodule numbers were strongly reduced but polyamine concentrations were 50% higher than at pH 5.5. At both pH levels putrescine and spermidine were the dominant polyamines, while the concentration of spermine was less than half of the other two. There was also a cultivar effect on the polyamine concentration, but this was much less pronounced than the pH effect. By 22 days after planting the uninoculated control plants had about 13% lower levels of polyamines than the inoculated plants. The concentrations of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were negatively correlated with nodule numbers, but positively correlated with the root tannin content. There were no significant correlations with either root or plant dry weight.     

Amelioration of saline‐sodic soils with organic matter and their use for wheat growth

Abstract

Few reports highlight the effect of organic matter in improving the properties of saline soils. A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effect of adding farm yard manure (manure), Egyptian clover hay (clover hay), and wheat straw, at 1 and 3% of soil weight on water stability of soil aggregates (WSA), water‐holding capacity (WHC), pH, and electrical conductivity of soil extract (ECe) of a normal, saline, and saline sodic soil. After 90 and 180 days, WSA and WHC increased, while pH and ECe decreased. Soil properties improved most by adding 3% manure to all the soils. Wheat grown in these soils indicated significant differences for various growth and yield variables, especially the root growth, number and area of green leaves, and grain yield. Organic matter added to these soils increased WSA and WHC and decreased pH and Ece. The WHC had no correlation with pH, but was negatively correlated with Ece. Increased WSA caused the leaching of excess ions and reduced their toxicity, while enhanced WHC increased the availability of water to the roots and promoted growth. It is concluded that manure ameliorated salt affected soils and promoted wheat growth better than clover hay and wheat straw.     

Use of soil solarization to control root rots in gerberas (Gerbera jamesonii)

Summary An investigation was conducted during the summer months of 1986–1987 and 1987–1988 in Western Australia to evaluate the effect of soil solarization on the control of root rot of gerbera an also on the microbial and nutrient status of the soil. Infested soil cores were sampled from a site where root-rot was a severe problem and were removed to a non-infested site where they were subjected to soil solarization or fumigation. Soil solarization resulted in reduced root rot (root disease index 28.6%) in comparison to the untreated control (52.0%) 8 months after planting. Plants in the fumigated plots had 15.8% less disease than those in solarized plots. Solarization increased the total numbers of bacteria and actinomycetes, and the proportion of bacteria and fungi antogonistic to Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and Rhizoctonia solani. The proportion of actinomycetes antagonistic to these fungi, however, did not differ between solarized and control soil treatments. There was a significant reduction in disease in plants grown in infested fumigated soil to which a 10% concentration of solarized soil had been added, suggesting the development of microbial suppression in solarized soil. Phytophthora cryptogea was eradicated to 30 cm by solarization as well as by fumigation. Solarization eliminated R. solani but not F. oxysporum to a soil depth of 10 cm. Solarization increased the levels of NO _n3 ^– -N and NH₄ ⁺-N in soil, but did not affect the concentrations of PO₄ ^3–, K⁺, Fe²⁺, organic C and pH. Yield (as number of flowers per plant) was increased by soil solarization and by fumigation.Increased yields and decreased disease severity in the solarized plots could have been caused by (1) a reduction in the infectivity of the infested soils, (2) an increase in the suppressiveness of the soil, and (3) an increased available of plant nutrients.     

Potential of Trichoderma spp. as consistent plant growth stimulators

In a series of repeated trials, six Trichoderma spp. strains, applied as a dried powder from a liquid fermentation in molasses/yeast medium, proved to be consistent at promoting the growth of lettuce (Latuca sativa L.) seedlings grown in a peat-sand potting compost in the glasshouse. Strains WT, 92, 20, and 75 at 0.75% or 1% w:w concentrations increased shoot dry weight by up to 26%, although WT did inhibit germination. For example, after 4 days only 13% of seeds sown in WT 1% w:w treated compost had germinated, whereas in other treatments germination was consistently greater than 32%. WT increased shoot fresh and dry weights by 14.3 g and 0.6 g per pot, respectively, without affecting the root dry weights, to give concomitant increases in shoot: root ratios of fresh and dry weight. The potential use of these Trichoderma spp. strains for plant growth promotion is discussed.     

Early growth of leucaena at different levels of sulphur and phosphorus application

Abstract

The response of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit cv K8 to four levels of sulphur (S) and six levels of phosphorus (P) application rates was determined. Applying S at 7.5 mg/kg soil increased shoot height by 28% and shoot and root dry weights by 34% and 15%, respectively. The number and dry weights of nodules were increased by two to three and 13 to 25 times, respectively, over the control which received no S and P. Applying P at 7.5 mg/kg soil significantly increased number and dry weight of nodules by 151% and 575%, respectively, and shoot height by 14% over the control, but had no effect on root growth. There were no significant improvements of nodule development for applications of S and P beyond rates of 7.5 mg/kg soil.     

Vigna radiata var. GM4 Plant Growth Enhancement and Root Colonization by a Multi-Metal-Resistant Plant GrowthPromoting Bacterium Enterobacter sp. C1D in Cr(VI)-Amended Soils

Contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals has become a major concern due to their toxic effects on plant growth, symbiosis and consequently the yields of crops. In the present study, to enhance plant growth in Cr(VI)-amended soils, novel metalresistant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) were isolated from a soil contaminated with industrial waste effluent. One of the bacterial isolates, identified as Enterobacter sp. C1D by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, was found to be multi-metal resistant in nature with excellent plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Mung bean (Vigna radiata var. GM4) inoculation with Enterobacter sp. C1D significantly (P < 0.01) increased root and shoot length, shoot and root weight, and chlorophyll content in a range of Cr(VI) treatments. Plant tolerance towards Cr(VI) measured as effective concentration showed higher values with Enterobacter sp. C1Dtreated plants compared to un-inoculated plants. Root colonization study was also carried out using green fluorescence protein-labeled Enterobacter sp. C1D under a hydroponic system. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of the plant roots showed heavy bacterial loads on the surface of the plant root specifically at the root tip and the point of root hair/lateral root formation. The results of PGP traits showed that elevated indole acetic acid levels and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity enabled Enterobacter sp. C1D to enhance V. radiata growth in Cr(VI)-amended soils, whereby it significantly increased plant tolerance towards elevated Cr(VI) concentrations.     

Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Acaulospora mellea decreases Cu phytoextraction by maize from Cu-contaminated soil

A pot culture experiment was carried out to study the growth of and Cu uptake by maize (Zea mays) inoculated with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Acaulospora mellea in sterilized soil with different Cu amounts added (0, 100, 200, 400, 800 mg kg⁻¹). Root colonization rates were significantly lower with the addition of 400 and 800 mg kg⁻¹ Cu. AM inoculation increased shoot dry weights at 200 and 400 mg kg⁻¹ Cu added but showed no effects at other levels, while increased root dry weights at all Cu addition levels except 800 mg kg⁻¹. Compared with the nonmycorrhizal plants, shoot Cu concentrations in mycorrhizal plants were higher when no Cu was added but lower at other levels, while root Cu concentrations were lower at 400 and 800 mg kg⁻¹ Cu added but not affected at other levels. Thus, shoot Cu uptake in mycorrhizal plants increased with no Cu added but decreased at other levels, while mycorrhizal effects on root Cu uptake varied. Compared with nonmycorrhizal controls, Cu uptake efficiency and phytoextraction efficiency in mycorrhizal plants were higher when no Cu was added but lower at other levels, and Cu translocation efficiency was lower at all Cu addition levels. AM inoculation improved shoot and root P nutrition at all Cu addition levels. Soil pH was higher in mycorrhizal treatment than in the control when 200 mg kg⁻¹ or more Cu was added. These results indicate that A. mellea ZZ may be not suitable for Cu phytoextraction by maize, but shows a potential role in phytostabilization of soil moderately polluted by Cu.