Efficacy of soil moisture conditions on the formation of ectomycorrhizal colonization and 137Cs absorption

• Published in: Landscape and ecological engineering 2020-04, Vol.16 (2), p.87-95
• Main Authors: Omari, Abdulhaq, Toda, Hiroto, Choi, Dongsu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cesium 137; Cesium isotopes; Cesium radioisotopes; Civil Engineering; Colonization; Ecosystem assessment; Ectomycorrhizas; Environmental Management; Essential nutrients; Food chains; Forest ecosystems; Fungi; Landscape Ecology; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning; Leaves; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Nature Conservation; Nitrogen; Nuclear accidents; Nuclear accidents & safety; Nuclear energy; Nuclear power plants; Nutrients; Original Paper; Phosphorus; Plant Ecology; Plants; Quercus serrata; Seedlings; Soil conditions; Soil contamination; Soil microorganisms; Soil moisture; Soil surfaces; Soil water; Soils; Terrestrial ecosystems; Translocation; Water content
• ISSN: 1860-1871; 1860-188X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11355-019-00404-8

Oak represents one of the most adaptable and resilient trees on earth and is widely distributed in multiple environments ranging from wet to dry. Japanese oak forests of Fukushima and the northern Kanto area were contaminated with radiocesium ( 137 Cs) by Fukusima Dai-ichi nuclear Power Plant accident. 137 Cs trapped at the surface soil has a deleterious effect on forest ecosystem and poses further threat to humans when it enters the food chain. The uptake of 137 Cs and other essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by plants with the aid of ectomycorrhizal fungi is affected by soil water content. The objective of this study was to evaluate the colonization rate of ectomycorrhiza (CRE) and its impact on nutrients and 137 Cs uptake pattern by oak ( Quercus serrata Thunb.) seedlings at different soil water content levels under greenhouse condition. The result shows that the growth of Q. serrata seedlings increased with increasing soil water content. In addition, the highest CRE was observed in the low water content (LW) and was significantly different from the high water content treatment (HW). The LW treatment showed the highest N and P concentration in leaves and roots although no statistical differences were observed compared to the other treatments. Treatments with 137 Cs-amended litter showed increased 137 Cs concentration in the leaves of plants and its leaf per root ratio increased with decreasing soil water content. The results of the present study also suggest enhanced 137 Cs absorption and translocation into Q. serrata seedlings is with the aid of ectomycorrhizal fungus except for the seedlings in HW.