Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on growth and metal uptake by four plant species in copper mine tailings

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2007-05, Vol.147 (2), p.374-380
• Main Authors: Chen, B.D., Zhu, Y.-G., Duan, J., Xiao, X.Y., Smith, S.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; arsenic; bioaccumulation; cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; China; Copper; Copper - analysis; Coreopsis; Coreopsis - growth & development; Coreopsis - metabolism; Coreopsis - microbiology; Coreopsis drummondii; ecological restoration; Glomus mosseae; greenhouse experimentation; heavy metals; indigenous species; Industrial Waste; Lolium - growth & development; Lolium - metabolism; Lolium - microbiology; Lolium perenne; mine spoil; Mine tailings; mined soils; Mining; Mycorrhizae - physiology; phosphorus; Phosphorus - pharmacokinetics; Plant Development; plant growth; plant nutrition; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plant Roots - microbiology; Plant Shoots - growth & development; Plant Shoots - metabolism; Plant Shoots - microbiology; Plants - metabolism; Plants - microbiology; polluted soils; provenance; Pteris - growth & development; Pteris - metabolism; Pteris - microbiology; Pteris vittata; Revegetation; shoots; soil fungi; Soil Pollutants - analysis; soil pollution; Trifolium - growth & development; Trifolium - metabolism; Trifolium - microbiology; Trifolium repens; turf grasses; uptake mechanisms; vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae; Zinc - analysis
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.04.027

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in encouraging revegetation of copper (Cu) mine tailings. Two native plant species, Coreopsis drummondii and Pteris vittata, together with a turf grass, Lolium perenne and a leguminous plant Trifolium repens associated with and without AMF Glomus mosseae were grown in Cu mine tailings to assess mycorrhizal effects on plant growth, mineral nutrition and metal uptake. Results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between G. mosseae and all plants tested, and mycorrhizal colonization markedly increased plant dry matter yield except for L. perenne. The beneficial impacts of mycorrhizal colonization on plant growth could be largely explained by both improved P nutrition and decreased shoot Cu, As and Cd concentrations. The experiment provided evidence for the potential use of local plant species in combination with AMF for ecological restoration of metalliferous mine tailings. This study demonstrated that AM associations can encourage plant survival in Cu mine tailings.