Project Detail

The effect of AM fungi on heavy metal uptake and tolerance of host plants: does the plant and fungus origin matter?

Name:	The effect of AM fungi on heavy metal uptake and tolerance of host plants: does the plant and fungus origin matter?
Researchers:	Sudová Radka (researcher)
Provider:	GA AV ČR
Realization from:	2006
Realization to:	2007
Summary:	The project was focused on the comparison of the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis on heavy metal (HM) uptake and tolerance in different populations of the same plant species coming either from contaminated or non-contaminated soil. As a model heavy metal-contaminated site, waste disposal site of a mine smelter was chosen from where Agrostis capillaris clones and native AM fungi were obtained. The clones of A. capillaris and AM isolate of Glomus intraradices from the contaminated site showed higher HM-tolerance than plant clones and fungal isolates of the same species from non-contaminated soil. The clones of A. capillaris from non-contaminated soil also accumulated considerably higher HM concentrations in their biomass than the clones from non-contaminated substrate. Synergism between plant and fungal HM-tolerance was not confirmed: AM inoculation did not increase plant HM tolerance either in tolerant or non-tolerant clones of A. capillaris, regardless of the origin of AM fungus.