Paper Details

Lead stress differently influence survival and growth of two poplar clones in association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Azadeh Salehi, Masoud Tabari Kouchaksaraei, Ebrahim Mohammadi Goltapeh, Anoushirvan Shirvani

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.6.162-172

Int. J. Biosci. 5(6), 162-172. September, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

A greenhouse experiment was accomplished to examine whether mycorrhizal colonization, survival, growth and volume production of Populus nigra 62/154 and Populus alba 44/9 clones were influenced by metal lead (0, 100, 500 and 1000 ppm Pb soil), and whether native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) may improve establishment of poplar clones on Pb contaminated soils. Plant parameters were measured during annual growth cycle, in July and October. In P. nigra only stem length (SL) and volume production were significantly reduced by application of 1000 ppm Pb, and these negative effects were not reversed in plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi. Significant reductions in all parameters of P. alba occurred at 1000 ppm Pb concentration and more or less at 500 ppm Pb. Stem length (SL) and volume production of P. alba were improved by fungal treatments, but similar effect was not observed on other parameters. In both poplars, mycorrhizal colonization percentage (M%) of plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi was higher than that in non-inoculated plants. Results revealed that although P. nigra clone had more lead tolerance than P. alba clone in terms of survival, growth and volume production, however both poplars showed acceptable potential for establishing on Pb contaminated soils. Additionally in P. alba, fungal inoculation may improve plant growth.