AMF Inoculation Alleviates Molybdenum Toxicity to Maize by Protecting Leaf Performance
Mengge Zhang1,2,3, Zhaoyong Shi1,2,3, Shichuan Lu1,2,3
1College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China.
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 28, 2023
Summary
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance maize growth and nutrient uptake under molybdenum (Mo) stress. AMF inoculation reduces Mo transport to shoots, aiding phytoremediation of Mo-polluted soils.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial for plant heavy metal phytoremediation.
- The specific effects of AMF on molybdenum (Mo) stress in plants remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of AMF inoculation on maize growth and Mo accumulation under varying Mo concentrations.
- To assess the physiological responses and nutrient uptake in maize plants treated with AMF and Mo.
Main Methods:
- A pot culture experiment utilized two AMF species ( *Claroideoglomus etunicatum* and *Rhizophagus intraradices*) with maize plants.
- Plants were subjected to four Mo addition levels (0, 100, 1000, 2000 mg/kg).
- Biomass, Mo content, nutrient uptake, and photosynthetic parameters were analyzed.
Main Results:
- AMF inoculation significantly increased maize biomass, with mycorrhizal dependency reaching 222% at 1000 mg/kg Mo.
- AMF reduced Mo transport to shoots, with roots accumulating up to 80% of Mo at 2000 mg/kg Mo.
- Inoculation improved photosynthetic pigment content and enhanced uptake of P, K, Zn, and Cu, mitigating Mo phytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- *Claroideoglomus etunicatum* and *Rhizophagus intraradices* tolerate Mo stress and alleviate its toxicity in maize.
- *Rhizophagus intraradices* demonstrated superior Mo tolerance by inhibiting Mo transport and enhancing nutrient uptake more effectively than *C. etunicatum*.
- AMF show significant potential for the bioremediation of Mo-contaminated soils.
