丛枝菌根真菌对棉花耐盐性的影响研究

盆栽灭菌试验研究丛枝(AM)真菌对棉花耐盐性的影响结果表明,自然盐渍化土壤和人工模拟盐渍条件下接种AM真菌处理的生物产量显著高于不接种处理,相同土壤下菌根真菌对棉花植株生长的促进作用随盐水平的提高而增大,表明AM真菌与植株建立的共生关系有利于棉花在盐渍土壤中生长。盐胁迫下棉花植株对P的需要量增加,接种AM真菌可提高植株含P量,促进植株生长,提高棉花的耐盐性。     

丛枝菌根真菌对NaCl胁迫下番茄内源激素的影响

采用盆栽试验研究了不同浓度NaCl（03%、06%和10%）胁迫下,接种丛枝菌根真菌Glomus mosseae-2 对番茄内源激素的影响。结果表明：（1）盐胁迫下,植株生长受抑,生长促进物质IAA、GA3和Zeatin含量下降,生长抑制物质ABA含量增加,接种Glomus mosseae-2增加了植株干物质量和这些激素的含量;（2）菌根形成过程中,Glomus mosseae-2参与调节内源激素平衡, 降低了叶片ABA/IAA、ABA/GA3、ABA/Zeatin及ABA/ (IAA+GA3+Zeatin)的比值; （3）气孔导度（gs））和ABA/Zeatin值呈极显著负相关,同一盐浓度胁迫下,接菌株有较高gs和较低的ABA/Zeatin值。 ABA和Zeatin共同调节气孔对盐胁迫的响应,维持接菌株较高的气孔导度,增强了番茄的耐盐性。     

苯并[a]芘污染土壤的丛枝菌根真菌强化植物修复作用研究

研究了种植紫花苜蓿 (MedicagosativaL )在接种和不接种菌根真菌 (GlomuscaledoniumL )情况下对土壤中苯并 [a]芘 (B[a]P)的降解动态。历经 90天的温室盆栽试验表明 ,较高浓度 (10 0mgkg-1)B[a]P能降低菌根真菌对植物根的侵染率。种植紫花苜蓿和接种菌根真菌能促进土壤中可提取态B[a]P的降解 ,在接种情况下 ,有植物时对三种浓度 (1mgkg-1,10mgkg-1,10 0mgkg-1)B[a]P的降解率分别达 86 2 %、86 6 %、5 7 0 % ;而没有植物时B[a]P的降解率为 5 3 5 %、5 3 0 %、33 0 %。不接菌根真菌时的降解率比接菌根真菌的低得多 ,不接种菌根真菌时 ,有植物的B[a]P降解率分别达 75 9%、77 7%、5 3 4 % ;而不种植物的降解率分别为 5 4 9%、5 2 6 %、34 1% ,低、中浓度 (1mgkg-1,10mgkg-1)两处理的降解率明显地高于高浓度处理(p <0 0 5 )。B[a]P添加对土壤中多酚氧化酶活性有较大的影响 ,特别是高浓度B[a]P处理土壤的酶活性明显地低于其它三个处理 ,接种菌根真菌能够提高土壤中的酶活性 ,从而促进了土壤中B[a]P的降解。     

盐胁迫和AM真菌对生菜生长的效应

试验设不接种、接种Glomus intraradices（BEG141）、接种Glomus mosseae（BEG167）3个接种处理，每个接种处理下再设电导率（EC）为607μScm^-1（低盐）、1236μScm^-1（中盐）、1866μScm^-1（高盐）等3个不同盐水平处理。试验结果表明：随着土壤EC值的增加，生菜生物量降低，但在低盐胁迫下，非菌根植株降低幅度大于菌根植株。与不接种处理相比，在低盐和中盐条件下，接种菌根真菌的植株体内NO3^-含量、植株地上部干重增加；同一土壤盐水平下，接种处理的植株磷、叶绿素含量高于不接种处理的；在低盐下，接种处理的植株的根系可溶性糖含量高于不接种处理的，但在1236和1866μScm^-1的盐度下，接种处理的植株根系可溶性糖含量低于不接种处理的。说明在施肥过量引起的次生盐渍化土壤中，AM真菌侵染对生菜在低盐胁迫下的生长存在促进作用，而在高盐胁迫下，使其生长受到抑制。     

绿肥翻压接种丛枝菌根真菌和深色有隔内生真菌对玉米生长及氮素利用的影响

  目的  绿肥作为生物肥料,加入土壤后如何提高植物对绿肥利用效率及氮转化效率一直是热点研究课题。本文使用新鲜苜蓿（Medicago sativa）作为绿肥,接种丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi,AMF）和深色有隔内生真菌（Dark Septate Endophytes,DSE）,探究利用微生物接种提高植物对绿肥利用效率和促进氮素转化的方法。  方法  本研究在温室条件下,采用玉米（Zea mays L.）作为供试植物,使用新鲜苜蓿（Medicago sativa）作为绿肥,并接种AMF和DSE。试验设置4个处理:绿肥（L）;绿肥 + AMF（L + A）;绿肥 + DSE（L + D）;绿肥 + DSE + AMF（L + D + A）。  结果  AMF和DSE可以同时定殖玉米植株;接种真菌处理均显著提高玉米株高与生物量,其中L + D处理效果最好,株高与干重的值分别为86.25 cm、41.893 g每盆。L + D处理较其它接菌处理对植物全氮、绿肥的利用效率促进作用最为显著,最大值分别为585.27 mg、76.50%,且L + D处理下土壤硝氮、铵氮含量、脲酶活性最高,分别为0.201 g kg?1、0.339 g kg?1以及81.51 μg kg 24 h?1。接种AMF处理土壤全氮含量均显著高于其不接种AMF处理,同时接种AMF和DSE对玉米生长产生一定程度抑制作用。  结论  绿肥接种深色有隔内生真菌在植物生物量及营养利用等方面略好于接种丛枝菌根真菌,而双接菌处理需进一步研究证明协同或竞争关系。该结果为利用微生物技术提高绿肥在土壤中的利用效率及促进氮素的转化提供理论依据。     

盐胁迫下AM真菌对紫花苜蓿生长及生理特征的影响

利用盆栽试验研究了NaCl胁迫条件下AM真菌对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)植株生长及生理特征的影响。结果显示:随土中加入NaCl浓度增高(0%,0.5%,1.0%),与未接菌紫花苜蓿相比,接种AM真菌显著(P<0.05)促进紫花苜蓿生长,并使其可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白及根系脯氨酸累积量增加。1.0%NaCl接种AM真菌处理下根系鲜重(28.1 mg)为0%NaCl未接种下的1.27倍;不同盐处理接种AM真菌植株丙二醛含量均低于对照株;1.0%NaCl浓度下接种AM菌植株叶片及根系脯氨酸含量分别为对照株的0.82,1.41倍。表明AM真菌在胁迫环境下不仅可促进植株生长发育及渗透调节物质的积累,还可维持植物体丙二醛含量较低水平,降低植株遭受盐胁迫,推测叶片与根系脯氨酸对ABA依赖程度不同而导致其脯氨酸含量不同。     

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。     

丛枝菌根真菌对蚕豆秸秆降解及玉米养分和镉铅吸收的影响

  【目的】   丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF) 有利于作物对养分的吸收。在镉、铅污染的土壤中,作物常将镉、铅积累在秸秆中,随着秸秆的还田而释放回土壤。探究前茬蚕豆秸秆还田和丛枝菌根真菌 单施或联合施用对土壤肥力、后茬玉米的矿质养分与镉、铅吸收的影响,为AMF 在调控污染农田轮作体系矿质养分与镉铅累积的生态功能提供新认识。   【方法】   采用四室隔板分室系统进行蚕豆秸秆降解试验,供试土壤和蚕豆秸秆均来源于云南省会泽铅锌矿区污染区,土壤全镉和铅含量分别为4.5和269.0 mg/kg,蚕豆秸秆镉和铅含量分别为1.9和10.9 mg/kg。将蚕豆秸秆粉碎至粒径0.5～2.0 mm装入尼龙袋中,埋于土壤内进行腐解培养试验。玉米盆栽试验设4个处理:污染土壤对照 (CK)、接种AMF菌根 (AMF)、添加蚕豆秸秆 (SI)、接种AMF菌根同时添加蚕豆秸秆 (SI+AMF)。分析AMF对蚕豆秸秆降解、矿质养分 (N、P、K) 与镉铅释放、土壤速效养分含量、玉米生长、矿质营养和镉铅吸收的影响。   【结果】   接种AMF显著提高蚕豆秸秆的降解量、矿质养分和镉铅释放量,促进蚕豆秸秆降解。与AMF处理相比,AMF+SI处理玉米根系的AMF侵染率提高了12%。SI处理显著增加土壤速效养分含量和玉米植株钾含量,降低玉米根部的镉含量,但对玉米株高和生物量没有显著影响。接种AMF、SI+AMF处理显著提高土壤速效氮、磷、钾含量,增加玉米氮、磷、钾含量与吸收量,显著提高玉米株高和生物量,同时显著降低土壤有效态镉、铅含量和玉米植株镉、铅含量。双因素分析表明,接种AMF和添加秸秆对土壤速效氮、磷、钾含量影响显著,但接种AMF对植株矿质元素吸收量、土壤有效态镉、铅含量和植株镉、铅含量作用显著,接种AMF与添加秸秆对各测定指标没有显著的交互作用。   【结论】   AMF能促进前茬秸秆降解、养分和镉铅的释放。接种AMF在提高土壤氮、磷、钾养分含量,降低有效态镉、铅含量,提高玉米对氮、磷、钾的吸收,降低镉和铅在玉米植株内的积累量等方面,均显示出良好的应用前景。虽然接种AMF与秸秆还田没有表现出显著的交互作用,但秸秆还田可增加AMF在玉米根部的侵染率,因此,在使用AMF菌剂时应考虑秸秆还田。     

盐胁迫对马蔺生长及K+、Na+吸收与运输的影响

本文主要介绍马蔺在盐胁迫下的生长状况以及K 、Na 含量和分布情况。采用砂培试验对马蔺的耐盐性进行了研究。试验结果表明在NaCl胁迫下,随着胁迫浓度的增加,马蔺生物量、株高、干重、肉质化以及K 含量、K /Na 比值降低,同时根冠比、Na 含量增加;各盐处理区根系含水量和肉质化程度大于茎叶,但与盐浓度的相关性不大。在土壤盐浓度<20.0g/kg时,盐胁迫使马蔺根系K-Na的选择性吸收降低,但却增强了向茎叶中运输K 的能力。马蔺受NaCl胁迫时,生长受抑制与植物组织内Na 含量提高和K /Na 比值的降低有关。     

丛枝菌根(AM)真菌对土壤中阿特拉津降解的影响

于盆栽高粱(Sorghum,龙杂一号)条件下研究了丛枝菌根(AM)真菌根内球囊霉(Glomus intraradices,GI)和摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae,GM)降解土壤中阿特拉津的效用。结果表明,阿特拉津(浓度为50 mg/kg)污染土壤中,供试AM真菌都能够侵染高粱根系形成菌根,而且GM比GI侵染效果好,最高侵染率可达到90.5%,显著提高了植株的生物量。接种AM真菌后土壤中阿特拉津的残留浓度显著低于不接种对照处理,并且接种GM比GI对阿特拉津的降解效果显著。接种GM处理的土壤中阿特拉津最高降解率达到了91.6%,其中菌根效应占22.6%。接种AM真菌的宿主植物根际土壤中微生物数量多于不接种处理,且GM优于GI处理,说明AM真菌能促进根际微生物的繁殖。此外,接种AM真菌后能显著增加土壤中脲酶活性,但对过氧化氢酶活性影响不显著。认为GM是一株比较理想的修复阿特拉津污染土壤的AM真菌。     

MYCORRHIZAL INFLUENCE ON FRUIT YIELD AND MINERAL CONTENT OF TOMATO GROWN UNDER SALT STRESS

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) yields are known to decrease for plants grown in saline soils. This study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on fruit yield and mineral content of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive tomato cultivars grown with varied levels of salt. NaCl and CaCl₂were added to soil in the irrigation water in equal molar ratios to give EC_e values of 1.4 (nonstressed) and 4.9 dS m^?1 (salt stressed). Plants were grown in a greenhouse using unsterilized, low phosphorus (P) (silty clay) soil-sand mix. Mycorrhizal root colonization occurred whether cultivars were salt stressed or nonstressed, but the extent of AMF root colonization was higher in AMF inoculated than uninoculated plants. The salt tolerant cultivar ‘Pello’ generally had higher AMF root colonization than the salt sensitive cultivar ‘Marriha’. Shoot dry matter (DM) yield, fruit fresh yield, and AMF colonization were higher for plants grown under nonstressed than for plants grown under salt stressed conditions. Shoot DM and fruit fresh yields were higher in AMF inoculated than uninoculated plants grown with or without salt stress. Pello generally had higher fruit fresh yield per plant and fruit weight than Marriha, but these differences were only significant for fruit weight in unioculated plants grown under salt stressed conditions. The enhancement in fruit fresh yield due to AMF inoculation was 26 and 23% under nonstressed and 28 and 46% under salt stressed treatments for Pello and Marriha, respectively. For both cultivars, fruit contents of P, potassium (K), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) were higher in AMF inoculated compared with uninoculated plants grown under nonstressed and salt stressed conditions. Fruit Na concentrations were lower in AMF inoculated than uninoculated plants grown under salt stressed conditions. The enhancement in P, K, Zn, Cu, and Fe acquisition due to AMF inoculation was more pronounced in Marriha than in Pello cultivar under salt stressed conditions. The results of this study indicated that AMF inoculated plants had greater tolerance to salt stress than unioculated plants.     

Comparative Study of Substrate-Based and Commercial Formulations of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Romaine Lettuce Subjected to Salt Stress

To compare the effect of substrate-based and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in salt stress tolerance of Romaine lettuce a bifactorial analysis was carried out. Under non-saline conditions, only plants inoculated with formulation 1 stimulated shoot weight but not related with greater root AMF colonization. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations in leaves were improved by mycorrhizal association. Irrigation with 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) did not affect leaf relative water content and we observed no osmotic adjustment in leaves from non-mycorrhizal plants. However, root dry biomass and its starch content decreased, while leaf starch and root soluble sugar concentrations were enhanced. Lettuce inoculated with formulation 2 and substrate-based Glomus intraradices showed the highest root colonization percentages. Nevertheless, none of the mycorrhizal treatments induced a significant improvement on growth of lettuce subjected to salt stress. Romaine lettuce seems to be a moderately tolerant variety to salinity and therefore, the contribution of AMF was minimized.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and rhizobacteria affect the physiology and performance of Sulla coronaria plants subjected to salt stress by mitigation of ionic imbalance

Salt stress has become a major menace to plant growth and productivity. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Rhizophagus intraradices) in combination or not with plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Pseudomonas sp. (Ps) and Bacillus subtilis) on the establishment and growth of Sulla coronaria plants under saline conditions. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and S. coronaria seedlings were stressed with NaCl (100 mM) for 4 weeks. Plant biomass, mineral nutrition of shoots and activities of rhizosphere soil enzymes were assessed. Salt stress significantly reduced plant growth while increasing sodium accumulation and electrolyte leakage from leaves. However, inoculation with AMF, whether alone or combined with the PGPR Pseudomonas sp. alleviated the salt‐induced reduction of dry weight. Inoculation with only AMF increased shoot nutrient concentrations resulting in higher K⁺: Na⁺, Ca²⁺: Na⁺, and Ca²⁺: Mg²⁺ ratios compared to the non‐inoculated plants under saline conditions. The co‐inoculation with AMF and Pseudomonas sp. under saline conditions lowered shoot sodium accumulation, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to non‐inoculated plants and plants inoculated only with AMF. The findings strongly suggest that inoculation with AMF alone or co‐inoculation with AMF and Pseudomonas sp. can alleviate salt stress of plants likely through mitigation of NaCl‐induced ionic imbalance, thereby improving the nutrient profile.     

Effects of indigenous and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of Allium fistulosum under field conditions

ABSTRACT

Enhanced phosphorus (P) uptake from the soil and increased plant growth related to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in pot culture, using sterilized soil, are well-known phenomena. However, these enhancements are not widely observed under field conditions because field sterilization is difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AM fungi on P uptake and the growth of Allium fistulosum in non-fumigated and fumigated fields, under different levels of P availability. Plants were inoculated with the AM fungus Glomus R-10 and grown in fumigated soil. For the uninoculated treatment, a sterilized inoculum was applied directly. The field was fumigated using dazomet. Superphosphate was applied to the field at the rates of 0 (P0) or 500 (P500) kg P₂O₅ ha^?1. The inoculated and uninoculated plants were transplanted into the fields and sampled three times to measure AM fungal colonization, shoot P concentration, and shoot dry weight of the plants. At the transplanting stage, AM fungal colonization was observed in the inoculated plants (>70%) but not in the uninoculated plants. At the third sampling, irrespective of P treatment, AM fungal colonization was observed both in the uninoculated and inoculated plants in the non-fumigated field, and there was no difference in shoot P content and shoot dry weight between the inoculated and uninoculated plants. AM fungal colonization in the fumigated field was higher in the inoculated than uninoculated plants, irrespective of P treatment; shoot P content and shoot dry weight were both higher in the inoculated plants than in the uninoculated plants with P0. These results suggest that the responses of A. fistulosum to AM fungal inoculation under the low-P and fumigated conditions are similar to those observed in sterilized pot culture conditions.     

Response of Different Crops to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Inoculation in Phosphorus-Deficient Soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the capability to improve crop yields by increasing plant nutrient supply. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions to determine the response of AMF inoculation on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), mash bean (Vigna mungo L.), and mung bean (Vigna radiata. L.) crops during 2008. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in three replications using phosphorus (P)–deficient soil. Three plants were grown in 10 kg soil up to the stage of maximum growth for 70 days. Spores of AMF were isolated from rhizosphere of freshly growing wheat and berseem crops and mixed with sterilized soil with fine particles. Crops were inoculated in the presence of indigenous mycorrhiza with the inoculum containing 20 g sterilized soil mixed with 40–50 AMF spores. Inoculation with AMF improved yield and nutrient uptake by different crops significantly over uninoculated crops. Inoculated millet crop showed 20% increase in shoot dry matter and 21% in root dry matter when compared with other inoculated crops. Increases of 67% in plant nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) were observed in millet, 166% in plant P uptake was observed in mash beans, 186% in zinc (Zn) was measured in maize, and 208% in copper (Cu) and 48% in manganese (Mn) were noted in sorghum crops. Maximum root infection intensity of 35% by AMF and their soil spore density were observed in millet crop followed by 32% in mash beans. Results suggest that inoculation of AMF may play a role in improving crop production and the varied response of different crops to fungi signifies the importance of evaluating the compatibility of the fungi and plant host species.     

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.     

Variable inhibition of iron uptake by oat phytosiderophore in five soybean cultivars

Abstract

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant growth, and nutrient uptake in saline soils with different salt and phosphorus (P) levels. The following treatments were included in this experiment: (i) Soil A, with salt level of 16.6 dS m^?1 and P level of 8.4 mg kg^?1; (ii) Soil B, with salt level of 6.2 dS m^?1 and P level of 17.5 mg kg^?1; and (iii) Soil C, with salt level of 2.4 dS m^?1 and P level of 6.5 mg kg^?1. Soils received no (control) or 25 mg P kg^?1 soil as triple super phosphate and were either not inoculated (control) or inoculated with a mixture of AM (AM1) and/or with Glomus intraradices (AM2). All pots were amended with 125 mg N kg^?1 soil as ammonium sulfate. Barley (Hordeum vulgar L., cv. “ACSAD 6”) was grown for five weeks. Plants grown on highly saline soils were severely affected where the dry weight was significantly lower than plants growing on moderately and low saline soils. The tiller number and the plant height were also lower under highly saline condition. The reduced plant growth under highly saline soils is mainly attributed to the negative effect of the high osmotic potential of the soil solution of the highly saline soils which tend to reduce the nutrient and water uptake as well as reduce the plant root growth. Both the application of P fertilizers and the soil inoculation with either inoculum mixture or G. intraradices increased the dry weight and the height of the plants but not the tiller number. The positive effect of P application on plant growth was similar to the effect of AM inoculation. Phosphorus concentration in the plants was higher in the mycorrhizal plant compared to the non mycorrhizal ones when P was not added. On the other hand, the addition of P increased the P concentration in the plants of the non mycorrhizal plants to as high as that of the mycorrhizal plants. Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) uptake increased with AM inoculation. The addition of P had a positive effect on micronutrient uptake in soil with low level of soil P, but had a negative effect in soil with high level of soil P. Micronutrient uptake decreases with increasing soil salinity level. Inoculation with AMF decreases sodium (Na) concentration in plants grown in soil of the highest salinity level but had no effect when plants were grown in soil with moderate or low salinity level. The potassium (K) concentration was not affected by any treatment while the K/Na ratio was increased by AM inoculation only when plant were grown in soil of the highest salinity level.     

砷污染土壤中接种丛枝菌根真菌和蚯蚓对土壤线虫群落和植物砷吸收的影响

The influences of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (MF, Acaulospora spp. and Glomus spp.), rice straw and earthworms (RE, Eisenia foetida) on nematode communities and arsenic (As) uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) in As-contaminated soils were examined in a field experiment conducted in Wujiang, Jiangsu Province, China. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial with the factors of MF (inoculated or uninoculated) and RE (added or not added). The results demonstrated that MF inoculation led to significantly higher root colonization of MF and root dry weight. Plants inoculated with both MF and RE had the highest As concentrations in root. The number of total nematodes increased with MF inoculation when RE was absent, and decreased with RE addition when MF was inoculated. The improved abundance of nematodes with the MF treatment implied that the tested MF acted as food sources for fungivores. The abundances of omnivores-predators and plant parasites were reduced by earthworm activity. Twenty-seven genera of nematodes were identified, with Filenchus dominant in all treatments. Trophic diversity (TD), Shannon-Weaver diversity (H′), Simpson dominance index (λ), and species richness (SR) indicated higher species diversity, more proportionate species composition, evenly distributed species, and more food sources in the MF, RE, and their interaction treatments. Maturity index (MI) showed a moderately disturbed environment due to As pollution. Besides enhancing plant uptake of contaminants, MF and RE amendments could also improve soil health by restoring the structure of soil communities, as reflected by more stable nematode community structure.     

Comparative efficiency of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under greenhouse conditions for promoting growth and aloin-A content of Aloe barbadensis

This study was conducted with Aloe barbadensis in order to investigate the efficacy of four phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Pseudomonas synxantha 10223, Burkholderia gladioli 10242, Enterobacter hormaechei 10240 and Serratia marcescens 10241 to solubilize Mussorie rock phosphate (MRP) and to evaluate its effects on growth, soluble P content and P uptake compared with control, i.e. uninoculated plants. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, in soil supplemented with MRP. Each PSB treatment showed different effects on different plant growth parameters. The maximum increase in leaf length (23.7%), total number of leaves (33.33%) and dry rind weight (69.10%) was observed in plants treated with P. synxantha 10223 compared with control. Whereas, maximum increase in root length (23.43%), fresh leaves weight (79.03%), dry gel weight (113.08%) and total gel volume (112.10%), was observed in plants treated with S. marcescens 10241 compared with uninoculated plants. Maximum increase in aloin-A content [114.92% (per g dry gel weight) and 322.32% (per plant dry gel weight)] was observed in plants treated with P. synxantha 10223 compared with control plants. Root colonization by inoculated PSB as estimated by RAPD technique showed that all PSB were able to survive in the rhizosphere of Aloe plants.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizas improve plant growth and soil structure in trifoliate orange under salt stress

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as a biostimulant enhance salt tolerance in plants, while the informations regarding AMF-induced changes in soil structure are only available to a limited degree. In this study, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings were inoculated with Diversispora versiformis under 100 mM NaCl for 85 days. The salt stress considerably inhibited mycorrhizal colonization by 26%, compared with non-salt stress. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, shoot biomass, and root biomass, length, surface area, and volume in comparison to non-mycorrhizal inoculation under salt stress or non-salt stress. Mycorrhization induced significantly higher production of easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP), and total glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP), higher percentage of water-stable aggregates (WSAs) in 0.25–0.50, 0.50–1.00, and 1.00–2.00 mm size, and lower in 2.00–4.00 mm size, regardless of non-salt stress or salt stress. Mycorrhizal soils represented higher aggregate stability (in terms of mean weight diameter) under salt and non-salt stress, which was related with root colonization, root surface area, root volume, EE-GRSP, and T-GRSP. The better soil structure by mycorrhization provided higher leaf water potential under salt stress. It suggests that mycorrhizas had a positive contribution to improve plant growth and soil structure, thereby enhancing salt tolerance.