Phosphorus fertilization and mycorrhizal colonization change silver nanoparticle impacts on maize

Environmental risks of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) have aroused considerable concern, however, their ecotoxicity in soil-plant systems has yet not been well elaborated, particularly in agroecosystems with various fertility levels and soil biota. The aims of the present study were to determine AgNPs impacts on maize as influenced by mycorrhizal inoculation and P fertilization. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted determine the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices and P fertilization (0, 20, and 50 P mg/kg soil, as Ca(H₂PO₄)₂) on plant growth, Ag accumulation and physiological responses of maize exposed to AgNPs (1 mg/kg), or an equivalent Ag⁺. Overall, AgNPs and Ag⁺ did not significantly affect plant biomass and acquisition of mineral nutrients, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), chlorophyll contents and photosystem (PS) II photochemical efficiency. In most cases, AgNPs and Ag⁺ caused similar Ag accumulation in plant tissues. P fertilization significantly increased Ag bioavailability and plant Ag accumulation, but only promoted the growth and P uptake of nonmycorrhizal plants. AM inoculation produced positive impacts on plant biomass, nutritional and physiological responses, but slightly affected extractable Ag in soil and Ag accumulation in plants. Mycorrhizal responses in plant growth and P uptake were more pronounced in the treatments without P but with Ag. By and large, AgNPs exhibited similar phytoavailability, phytoaccumulation and low phytotoxicity compared to Ag⁺, but higher fungitoxicity (i.e., lower root colonization). In conclusion, both AM inoculation and P fertilization can improve plant performance in the soil exposed to Ag, but P increases environmental risk of Ag. Our results indicate a beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but a dual role of P in soil-plant systems exposed to AgNPs or Ag⁺.