Paris-type mycorrhizas in Smilax aspera L. growing in a Mediterranean scherophyllous wood

Paris- type mycorrhiza is described in Smilax aspera L., an evergreen climbing plant of Mediterranean sclerophyllous woods. Wild plants were sampled from a protected area inside the Regional Natural Park Migliarino-S.Rossore-Massaciuccoli, on the northwestern coast of Italy, near Pisa. Mycorrhizas formed by S. aspera were identified as a variation of Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizas. Detailed observations on stained roots and on fresh root sections showed that, after forming the appressorium, the fungus colonized the root by penetrating individual cells, growing intracellularly from cell to cell, and producing many coils and terminal arbuscules. S. aspera seedlings inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae and G. viscosum, which are known to form Arum-type mycorrhizas in many plant species, produced the same Paris-type-like mycorrhizas found in nature. This confirms that the type of arbuscular mycorrhizal infection is largely governed by the plant host genotype. Plants of S. aspera inoculated with G. mosseae and G. viscosum had larger growth increments than uninoculated plants. Thus Paris-type mycorrhizas produce growth responses comparable to those of Arum-type mycorrhizas. Accepted: 11 January 2000     

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviating salt stress in Medicago sativa L. var. icon

Medicago sativa L. is the most important forage crop in arid and semi-arid areas, where increased salinity is a major factor limiting plant growth and crop productivity. The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus viscosum H.T. Nicolson strain A6 in protecting alfalfa plants from salt stress, induced by sodium chloride (NaCl), was studied in two ways. Firstly, the root systems of 3-month old M. sativa plants, both mycorrhizal (AM+) and non-mycorrhizal (non-AM) (M. sativa L. var. icon), were placed in solutions of increasing salt concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM NaCl) to study the wilting response. G. viscosum improved the tolerance to salinity stress and the benefit was expressed in terms of the time required to reach the T4 stage in the wilting experiment. Secondly, to evaluate the ability of the Glomus-alfalfa symbiosis to tolerate salt, a pot experiment was set up in a glasshouse in which 3-month old alfalfa plants (M. sativa var. icon) were grown in a peat substratum at three salinity levels (0, 100, 150 mM NaCl). The AM symbiosis stimulated plant height, leaf area, root density, fresh and dry plant weight under saline conditions. Furthermore, proline accumulation was higher in mycorrhizal M. sativa plants than in non-mycorrhizal plants under conditions of salt stress. These and other results indicated that the micropropagated selected clone of M. sativa var. icon, when in symbiosis with G. viscosum H.T. Nicolson strain A6, exhibited better growth and physiological activities under saline conditions than non-AM plants. The AM+ plants also had lower sodium and chloride concentrations in tissues than non-AM plants.     

The effect of host mycorrhizal status on host plant–parasitic plant interactions

Two pot experiments were conducted to examine three-level interactions between host plants, mycorrhizal fungi and parasitic plants. In a greenhouse experiment, Poa annua plants were grown in the presence or absence of an AM fungus (either Glomus lamellosum V43a or G. mosseae BEG29) and in the presence or absence of a root hemiparasitic plant (Odontites vulgaris). In a laboratory experiment, mycorrhizal infection (Glomus claroideum BEG31) of Trifolium pratense host plants (mycorrhizal versus non-mycorrhizal) was combined with hemiparasite infection (Rhinanthus serotinus) of the host (parasitized versus non-parasitized). Infection with the two species of Glomus had no significant effect on the growth of P. annua, while hemiparasite infection caused a significant reduction in host biomass. Mycorrhizal status of P. annua hosts (i.e. presence/absence of AM fungus) affected neither the biomass nor the number of flowers produced by the attached O. vulgaris plants. Infection with G. claroideum BEG31 greatly increased the biomass of T. pratense, but hemiparasite infection had no effect. The hemiparasitic R. serotinus plants attached to mycorrhizal hosts had higher biomass and produced more flowers than plants growing with non-mycorrhizal hosts. Roots of T. pratense were colonized by the AM fungus to an extent independent of the presence or absence of the hemiparasite. Our results confirm earlier findings that the mycorrhizal status of a host plant can affect the performance of an attached root hemiparasite. However, improvement of the performance of the parasitic plant following attachment to a mycorrhizal host depends on the extent to which the AM fungi is able to enhance the growth of the host. Accepted: 23 February 2001     

Mycorrhizal colonization impacts on phenolic content and antioxidant properties of artichoke leaves and flower heads two years after field transplant

Greenhouse and field experiments were carried out in order to investigate the influence of mycorrhizal inoculation on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity, expressed as antiradical power (ARP), of artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus F.) leaves and flower heads extracts. The establishment of mycorrhizal symbiosis was monitored in pot and field grown plants, and the persistence of the inoculated AMF in roots after 2 years’ growth in the field was assessed by fungal ITS sequencing. Both in the greenhouse and in the field, marked increases in TPC and ARP were detected in leaves and flower heads of artichoke plants inoculated with the AM fungal species Glomus intraradices, either alone or in mixture with Glomus mosseae. In the field, plants inoculated with Glomus mix showed flower heads ARP content increases of 52.7 and 30.0% in the first and second year, respectively, compared with uninoculated plants. After 2 years’ growth in the field ITS rDNA sequences clustering with those of G. mosseae and G. intraradices were retrieved only from inoculated plant roots. Our data show that mycorrhizal inoculation may represent an efficient and sustainable strategy to improve productivity and enhance plant biosynthesis of secondary metabolites with health promoting activities.     

Dual colonization of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake by arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi affects levels of insect herbivore attack

Abstract 1 Eucalypts are an important part of plantation forestry in Asia but, in south China, productivity is very low. This is due to infertile soils and lack of indigenous symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi. The genus Eucalyptus is unusual because it forms both arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations. 2 Eucalyptus urophylla saplings were grown with and without AM (Glomus caledonium) and ECM (Laccaria laccata) fungi in a factorial design. Two experiments were performed: one to simulate nursery conditions and the other to simulate the early stages of plantation establishment. Plant growth was measured over 18 weeks and levels of insect attack were recorded. 3 The AM fungus reduced tree growth in the early stages, but the effect appeared to be transient. No effects of ECM were detected on tree growth, but the ectomycorrhiza reduced colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhiza. AM fungi appear to be rapid invaders of the root system, gradually being replaced by ECM. 4 Both fungal types affected levels of damage by insect herbivores. Most importantly, herbivory by the pest insects Anomala cupripes (Coleoptera) and Strepsicrates spp. (Lepidoptera) was decreased by ECM. 5 It is suggested that mycorrhizal effects on eucalypt insects may be determined by carbon allocation within the plant. Future studies of eucalypt mycorrhizas need to take into account the effects of the fungi on foliar‐feeding insects and also the effects of insect herbivory on mycorrhizal establishment.     

The differential behavior of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in interaction with Astragalus sinicus L. under salt stress

Three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus mosseae, Glomus claroideum, and Glomus intraradices) were compared for their root colonizing ability and activity in the root of Astragalus sinicus L. under salt-stressed soil conditions. Mycorrhizal formation, activity of fungal succinate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as plant biomass, were evaluated after 7 weeks of plant growth. Increasing the concentration of NaCl in soil generally decreased the dry weight of shoots and roots. Inoculation with AM fungi significantly alleviated inhibitory effect of salt stress. G. intraradices was the most efficient AM fungus compared with the other two fungi in terms of root colonization and enzyme activity. Nested PCR revealed that in root system of plants inoculated with a mix of the three AM fungi and grown under salt stress, the majority of mycorrhizal root fragments were colonized by one or two AM fungi, and some roots were colonized by all the three. Compared to inoculation alone, the frequency of G. mosseae in roots increased in the presence of the other two fungal species and highest level of NaCl, suggesting a synergistic interaction between these fungi under salt stress.     

Response of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Arachis hypogaea to NaCl and acid stress

 The response of peanut to salt (NaCl) and acid (HCl) stress was studied in association with Glomus caledonium, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus. The plants were exposed to salt stress by irrigation on alternate days with 1% or 5% NaCl solutions, or with 0.1 N HCl to induce acid stress. Plant yield almost tripled in mycorrhizal plants compared with nonmycorrhizal control plants. AM inoculation significantly increased plant yield and biomass at 1% NaCl, while at 5% NaCl AM was less effective in alleviating salt stress. Percentage AM colonization was also lowest at 5% NaCl. AM inoculation was found to promote the establishment of peanut plants under acid stress conditions. Accepted: 2 October 1995     

Alleviation of salt stress in Lotus glaber by Glomus intraradices

Lotus glaber is a glycophytic, perennial legume from Europe that occurs widely in saline habitats. We evaluated the effect of mycorrhizal fungus colonization on the response to salt stress of two genotypes of L. glaber differing in their tolerance to salinity. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with two factors: (1) mycorrhizal fungus treatments (with or without AM fungus) and (2) two salinity levels of 0 and 200 mM NaCl. Our results indicated that Glomus intraradices established a more efficient symbiosis with the tolerant than with the sensitive genotype. G. intraradices improved growth of L. glaber plants under saline conditions. They showed higher values of net growth, shoot/root and K⁺/Na⁺ ratios, and protein concentrations than controls. Tolerant AM plants also showed higher chlorophyll levels than non-AM ones. Prevention of Na⁺ accumulation in the plant and enhancement of K⁺ concentrations in roots observed in this work could be part of the general mechanism of salt stress alleviation of L. glaber by G. intraradices.     

Litter N retention over winter for a low and a high phenolic species in the alpine tundra

Mycorrhizal fungus colonization of roots may modify plant metal acquisition and tolerance. In the present study, the contribution of the extraradical mycelium of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus mosseae (BEG 107), to the uptake of metal cations (Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni) by cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants was determined. The influence of the amount of P supplied to the hyphae on the acquisition and partitioning of metal cations in the mycorrhizal plants was also investigated. Pots with three compartments were used to separate root and root-free hyphal growing zones. The shoot concentration of Cd and Ni was decreased in mycorrhizal plants compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. In contrast, shoot Zn and Cu concentrations were increased in mycorrhizal plants. High P supply to hyphae resulted in decreased root Cu concentrations and shoot Cd and Ni concentrations in mycorrhizal plants. These results confirm that some elements required for plant growth (P, Zn, Cu) are taken up by mycorrhizal hyphae and are then transported to the plants. Conversely, Cd and Ni were transported in much smaller amounts by hyphae to the plant, so that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus colonization could partly protect plants from toxic effects of these elements. Selective uptake and transport of plant essential elements over non-essential elements by AM hyphae, increased growth of mycorrhizal plants, and metal accumulation in the root may all contribute to the successful growth of mycorrhizal plants on metal-rich substrates. These effects are stimulated when hyphae can access sufficient P in soil.     

Functional aspects of root architecture and mycorrhizal inoculation with respect to nutrient uptake capacity

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation on root morphology and nitrogen uptake capacity of carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) under high and low nutrient conditions. The experimental design was a factorial arrangement of presence/absence of mycorrhizal fungus inoculation ( Glomus intraradices) and high/low nutrient status. Percent AM colonisation, nitrate and ammonium uptake capacity, and nitrogen and phosphorus contents were determined in 3-month-old seedlings. Grayscale and colour images were used to study root morphology and topology, and to assess the relation between root pigmentation and physiological activities. AM colonisation lead to a higher allocation of biomass to white and yellow parts of the root. Inorganic nitrogen uptake capacity per unit root length and nitrogen content were greatest in AM colonised plants grown under low nutrient conditions. A better match was found between plant nitrogen content and biomass accumulation, than between plant phosphorus content and biomass accumulation. It is suggested that the increase in nutrient uptake capacity of AM colonised roots is dependent both on changes in root morphology and physiological uptake potential. This study contributes to an understanding of the role of AM fungi and root morphology in plant nutrient uptake and shows that AM colonisation improves the nitrogen nutrition of plants, mainly when growing at low levels of nutrients.     

培养容器容积对AM真菌生长发育的影响

研究宿主植物栽培容器对丛枝菌根(Arbuscularmycorrhizae,AM)真菌Glomusmosseae生长发育的影响。结果表明:小容积容器的根系密度相对较大,在菌根共生体建立初期,菌根真菌繁殖体与根接触的机会增大,对于菌根真菌的迅速侵染及共生体的迅速建立非常有利,同时还增大了根外菌丝二次侵染的机会,从而使菌根真菌生长发育形成了一个良性循环,最终有利于根外孢子的形成。容器对共生体的影响决不是简单的盆的体积问题,而与其面积和体积之比有关,也和种植密度有密切关系。     

Mycorrhizal mediation of plant N acquisition and residue decomposition: Impact of mineral N inputs

Mycorrhizas are ubiquitous plant–fungus mutualists in terrestrial ecosystems and play important roles in plant resource capture and nutrient cycling. Sporadic evidence suggests that anthropogenic nitrogen (N) input may impact the development and the functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, potentially altering host plant growth and soil carbon (C) dynamics. In this study, we examined how mineral N inputs affected mycorrhizal mediation of plant N acquisition and residue decomposition in a microcosm system. Each microcosm unit was separated into HOST and TEST compartments by a replaceable mesh screen that either prevented or allowed AM fungal hyphae but not plant roots to grow into the TEST compartments. Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) was planted in the HOST compartments that had been inoculated with either a single species of AM fungus, Glomus etunicatum, or a mixture of AM fungi including G. etunicatum. Mycorrhizal contributions to plant N acquisition and residue decomposition were directly assessed by introducing a mineral ¹⁵N tracer and ¹³C‐rich residues of a C₄ plant to the TEST compartments. Results from ¹⁵N tracer measurements showed that AM fungal hyphae directly transported N from the TEST soil to the host plant. Compared with the control with no penetration of AM fungal hyphae, AM hyphal penetration led to a 125% increase in biomass ¹⁵N of host plants and a 20% reduction in extractable inorganic N in the TEST soil. Mineral N inputs to the HOST compartments (equivalent to 5.0 g N m^?2 yr^?1) increased oat biomass and total root length colonized by mycorrhizal fungi by 189% and 285%, respectively, as compared with the no‐N control. Mineral N inputs to the HOST plants also reduced extractable inorganic N and particulate residue C proportion by 58% and 12%, respectively, in the corresponding TEST soils as compared to the no‐N control, by stimulating AM fungal growth and activities. The species mixture of mycorrhizal fungi was more effective in facilitating N transport and residue decomposition than the single AM species. These findings indicate that low‐level mineral N inputs may significantly enhance nutrient cycling and plant resource capture in terrestrial ecosystems via stimulation of root growth, mycorrhizal functioning, and residue decomposition. The long‐term effects of these observed alterations on soil C dynamics remain to be investigated.     

The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizas of selected Australian Fabaceae

Abstract

Members of the Australian native perennial Fabaceae have been little explored with regard to their root biology and the role played by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in their establishment, nutrition and long-term health. The ultimate goal of our research is to determine the dependency of native perennial legumes on their co-evolved AM fungi and conversely, the impact of AM fungal species in agricultural fields on the productivity of sown native perennial legume pastures. In this paper we investigate the colonisation morphology in roots and the AMF, identified by spores extracted from rhizosphere soil, from three replicate plots of each of the native legumes, Cullen australasicum, C. tenax and Lotus australis and the exotic legumes L. pedunculatus and Medicago sativa. The plants were grown in an agricultural field. The level and density of colonisation by AM fungi, and the frequency of intraradical and extraradical hyphae, arbuscules, intraradical spores and hyphal coils all differed between host plants and did not consistently differ between native and exotic species. However, there were strong similarities between species in the same genus. The three dominant species of AM fungi in rhizosphere soil also differed with host plant, but one fungus (Glomus mosseae) was always the most dominant. Sub-dominant AM species were the same between species in the same genus. No consistent differences in dominant spores were observed between the exotic and native Fabaceae species. Our results suggest that plant host influences the mycorrhizal community in the rhizosphere soil and that structural and functional differences in the symbiosis may occur at the plant genus level, not the species level or due to provenance.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal contribution to heavy metal uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) in pot culture with contaminated soil

In two pot-culture experiments with maize in a silty loam (P2 soil) contaminated by atmospheric deposition from a metal smelter, root colonization with indigenous or introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their influence on plant metal uptake (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn) were investigated. Soil was -irradiated for the nonmycorrhizal control. In experiment 1, nonirradiated soil provided the mycorrhizal treatment, whereas in experiment 2 the irradiated soil was inoculated with spores of a fungal culture from P2 soil or a laboratory reference culture, Glomus mosseae. Light intensity was considerably higher in experiment 2 and resulted in a fourfold higher shoot and tenfold higher root biomass. Under the conditions of experiment 1, biomass was significantly higher and Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn concentrations significantly lower in the mycorrhizal plants than in the nonmycorrhizal plants, suggesting a protection against metal toxicity. In contrast, in experiment 2, biomass did not differ between treatments and only Cu root concentration was decreased with G. mosseae-inoculated plants, whereas Cu shoot concentration was significantly increased with the indigenous P2 fungal culture. The latter achieved a significantly higher root colonization than G. mosseae (31.7 and 19.1%, respectively) suggesting its higher metal tolerance. Zn shoot concentration was higher in both mycorrhizal treatments and Pb concentrations, particularly in the roots, also tended to increase with mycorrhizal colonization. Cd concentrations were not altered between treatments. Cu and Zn, but not Pb and Cd root-shoot translocation increased with mycorrhizal colonization. The results show that the influence of AM on plant metal uptake depends on plant growth conditions, on the fungal partner and on the metal, and cannot be generalized. It is suggested that metal-tolerant mycorrhizal inoculants might be considered for soil reclamation, since under adverse conditions AM may be more important for plant metal resistance. Under the optimized conditions of normal agricultural practice, however, AM colonization even may increase plant metal absorption from polluted soils.     

Mycorrhiza modulates aboveground tri‐trophic interactions to the fitness benefit of its host plant

1. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), the association of AM fungi and plant roots, may alter morphological and physiological attributes of aboveground plant parts and thereby influence plant‐associated organisms such as herbivores and their natural enemies, predators and parasitoids. 2. The interactions between AM and the players of aboveground tri‐trophic systems have mainly been considered in isolation from each other. The effects of AM on aboveground herbivore–carnivore population dynamics and the consequences to plant fitness are unknown. 3. We explored AM‐induced compensatory mechanisms for AM‐promoted proliferation of the herbivorous spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on whole bean plants, Phaseolus vulgaris L. Vegetative and reproductive plant growth, AM fungal colonisation levels, and mite densities were assessed on spider mite‐infested plants colonised or not by the AM fungus Glomus mosseae Nicol. & Gerd, and harbouring the natural enemy of the spider mites, the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Anthias‐Henriot or not. 4. AM symbiosis modulated the aboveground tri‐trophic system to the fitness benefit of the plant. AM‐increased plant productivity outweighed the fitness decrease due to AM‐promoted herbivory: at similar vegetative growth, mycorrhizal plants produced more seeds than non‐mycorrhizal plants. 5. AM‐increased spider mite population levels were compensated for by enhanced population growth of the predators and increased plant tolerance to herbivory. 6. AM‐enhanced predator performance looped back to the AM fungus and stabilised its root colonisation levels, providing the first experimental evidence of a mutually beneficial interaction between AM and an aboveground third trophic level natural enemy.     

On-site growth response of a desert ephemeral plant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plantago minuta</Emphasis>, to indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a central Asia desert

Desert ephemeral plants play a key role in desert ecosystem stability and environmental conservation. To determine the effect of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth and P uptake of the desert ephemeral Plantago minuta, we conducted two on-site experiments in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The co-development of a pre-isolated indigenous AM fungus, Glomus etunicatum, with the ephemeral was also investigated. The results showed that both the single fungus and the indigenous AM fungal community enhanced the growth and P uptake of P. minuta. The phenological phases of P. minuta were highly consistent with the phases of the indigenous AM fungus, G. etunicatum, indicating that both symbiotic partners seem to be able to sense the changes in local weather, which might be an important trait for the survival of both plant and fungus in desert environments. The development of host plant and indigenous AM fungi were interdependent in the desert.     

Cold-storage of mixed inoculum of Glomus intraradices enhances root colonization,phosphorus status and growth of hot pepper

Growth response of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith was evaluated in a greenhouse study. Three treatments in a soil-based medium amended with rock phosphate were: (1) control (CON), (2) inoculation of G. intraradices as a freshly prepared soil mixture of spores, hyphae and colonized roots of Sorghum vulgare (FM), and (3) inoculation of the fungus as cold-stored mixed inoculum (CM). Colonization at 14 weeks after inoculation with CM was 42.5%, but was significantly lower with FM (14.5%). Inoculation with G. intraradices as FM and CM increased growth of pepper, and total phosphorus and nitrogen uptake in shoots and roots compared with the CON treatment. Inoculation with CM resulted in significant increases in plant dry weight and chlorophyll concentration compared to the FM and CON treatments. Acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere was generally increased by AM fungal treatments. Highest acid phosphatase activity occurred at 14 weeks after inoculation with CM. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the CM treatment was significantly higher compared to that in CON and FM treatments throughout the growth period. Thus, cold storage of mixed inoculum enhanced colonization and growth-promoting activity of G. intraradices compared to freshly prepared inoculum.     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and kinetin on the response of mungbean plants to irrigation with seawater

Increasing use of saline water in irrigation can markedly change the physical and chemical properties of soil. An experiment was carried out to investigate the interaction between the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus clarum, isolated from a saline soil, and kinetin on the growth and physiology of mungbean plants irrigated with different dilutions of seawater (0, 10, 20, and 30%). The growth, chlorophyll concentration and sugar content of mycorrhizal plants was greater than that of non-mycorrhizal plants under all conditions (with or without seawater). The dry weight of both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal mungbean plants irrigated with 10% seawater was significantly increased by treatment with kinetin. The mycorrhizal symbiosis increased root:shoot dry weight ratio, concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, plant height, protein content, nitrogen or phosphorus-use efficiencies, and root nitrogenase, acid or alkaline phosphatase activities of seawater-irrigated mungbean plants, with little or no effect of kinetin. Kinetin treatment generally decreased chlorophyll concentration and sugar content in mycorrhizal plants as well as Na/N, Na/P Na/K, Na/Ca and Na/Mg ratios. Root colonization by G. clarum was increased by irrigation with seawater, and kinetin had no consistent effect on fungal development in roots. This study provides evidence that arbuscular mycorrhiza can be much more effective than kinetin applications in protecting mungbean plants against the detrimental effects of salt water.     

Influence of the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on the development of peanut pod rot disease in Egypt

Glomus mosseae and the two pod rot pathogens Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani and subsequent effects on growth and yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants were investigated in a greenhouse over a 5-month period. At plant maturity, inoculation with F. solani and/or R. solani significantly reduced shoot and root dry weights, pegs and pod number and seed weight of peanut plants. In contrast, the growth response and biomass of peanut plants inoculated with G. mosseae was significantly higher than that of non-mycorrhizal plants, both in the presence and absence of the pathogens. Plants inoculated with G. mosseae had a lower incidence of root rot, decayed pods, and death than non-mycorrhizal ones. The pathogens either alone or in combination reduced root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus. Propagule numbers of each pathogen isolated from pod shell, seed, carpophore, lower stem and root were significantly lower in mycorrhizal plants than in the non-mycorrhizal plants. Thus, G. mosseae protected peanut plants from infection by pod rot fungal pathogens. Accepted: 10 February 2000     

Mycorrhizal fungi enhance accumulation and tolerance of chromium in sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Chromium (Cr) is a heavy metal risk to human health, and a contaminant found in agricultural soils and industrial sites. Phytoremediation, which relies on phytoextraction of Cr with biological organisms, is an important alternative to costly physical and chemical methods of treating contaminated sites. The ability of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AM),Glomus intraradices, to enhance Cr uptake and plant tolerance was tested on the growth and gas exchange of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Mycorrhizal-colonized (AM) and non-inoculated (Non-AM) sunflower plants were subjected to two Cr species [trivalent cation (Cr³⁺) Cr(III) , and divalent dichromate anion (Cr₂O₇⁻) Cr(VI) ]. Both Cr species depressed plant growth, decreased net photosynthesis (A) and increased the vapor pressure difference; however, Cr(VI) was more toxic. Chromium accumulation was greatest in roots, intermediate in stems and leaves, and lowest in flowers. Greater Cr accumulation occurred with Cr(VI) than Cr(III). AM enhanced the ability of sunflower plants to tolerate and hyperaccumulate Cr. At higher Cr levels greater mycorrhizal dependency occurred, as indicated by proportionally greater growth, higherA and reduced visual symptoms of stress, compared to Non-AM plants. AM plants had greater Cr-accumulating ability than Non-AM plants at the highest concentrations of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), as indicated by the greater Cr phytoextraction coefficient. Mycorrhizal colonization (arbuscule, vesicle, and hyphae formation) was more adversely affected by Cr(VI) than Cr(III), however high levels of colonization still occurred at even the most toxic levels. Arbuscules, which play an important role in mineral ion exchange in root cortical cells, had the greatest sensitivity to Cr toxicity. Higher levels of both Cr species reduced leaf tissue phosphorus (P). While tissue P was higher in AM plants at the highest Cr(III) level, tissue P did not account for mycorrhizal benefits observed with Cr(VI) plants.