Journal article

Publication year: 1996

Pages: 189-194

Journal: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science

Volume number: 159

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 0044-3263

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.1996.3581590214

Publisher: Wiley-VCH Verlag

Abstract: 

In pot experiments with a sewage sludge treated soil, the influence of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolates of Glomus sp. (T6 and D13) on plant growth and on the uptake of heavy metals by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) was investigated. Alfalfa showed an increase of biomass with mycorrhizal infection only to a small extent. In oat AMF inoculation increased the growth of both root and shoot by up to 70% and 55% respectively.

Mycorrhization raised the P-content and -uptake in alfalfa, but not in oat, in both roots and shoots. Mycorrhizal alfalfa showed lower Zn-Cd- and Ni-contents and uptake in roots and shoots. The root length was significantly decreased in mycorrhizal alfalfa plants (up to 38%). The translocation of heavy metals into the shoot of mycorrhizal alfalfa was slightly increased.

Mycorrhizal infection of oat led to higher concentrations of Zn, Cd and Ni in the root but to less Zn in the shoot. The translocation of heavy metals to the oat shoot was clearly decreased by mycorrhizal colonisation. This may be based on the ability of fungal tissues to complex heavy metals at the cell walls, thus excluding metals from the shoot. The conclusion is supported by the enhanced root length (up to 78%) of mycorrhizal oat plants in this experiment.

The mycorrhizal infection seemed to protect plants against heavy metal pollution in soils. It was obvious that different host plants reacted in different ways.

Harvard Citation style: Ricken, B. and Hofner, W. (1996) Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on heavy metal tolerance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) and oat (Avena sativa L) on a sewage-sludge treated soil, Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science = Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde, 159(2), pp. 189-194. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.1996.3581590214

APA Citation style: Ricken, B., & Hofner, W. (1996). Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on heavy metal tolerance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) and oat (Avena sativa L) on a sewage-sludge treated soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science = Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde. 159(2), 189-194. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.1996.3581590214