Potential Role of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Phytoremediation

Master's Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Biology - Botany grade: 1 language: English abstract: The increase of metals pollution in soil is a worldwide problem that effects the health of humans and environment. The use of green technology such as phytoremediation is one the environmental friendly technique in which plants and other microbes are used to reduce the level of metals contaminants in soil and lower its uptake towards plants tissues. Studies reported a number of cereal crops such as wheat and medicinal plants like alfalfa accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at higher concentrations. In the present study we investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on wheat and alfalfa plants with the increase of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in soil. After eight weeks of pot experiment roots colonization shoot and root biomass growth heavy metals contents and other biochemical parameters were assessed. The results indicated mycorrhizal inoculated (M) plants performed better at moderate Zn and Cd concentrations. In addition higher phosphorus contents were observed in M treated plants as compared to NM plants. Results indicated that AMF inoculum exhibit different tolerance strategies to reduce metals toxicity in host plants. The effective mycorrhizal symbiosis was observed with wheat and alfalfa plants and can be useful for phytostabilization of metals contaminated soils which can play a vital role in increase of plants productivity and safety.