Uptake of Heavy Metals by Mycorrhizal Barley (Hordeum vulgareL.)

Mohammad Rezvania, Mohammad Reza Ardakanib, Farhad Rejalic, Faezeh Zaefariand, Sadollah Teimourib, Ghorban Noormohammadie & Mohammad Miransarif*a Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iranb Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Agricultural and Natural Resources Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iranc Soil and Water of Research Institute, Karaj, Irand Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Irane Department of Agronomy, Agricultural and Natural Resources Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iranf Department of Book&Article, AbtinBerkeh Ltd. Company, Isfahan, IranAddress correspondence to Mohammad Miransari, Department of Book&Article, AbtinBerkeh Ltd. Company, #37, Malek Ave., Nazer Alley, Isfahan, 8154743111 Iran. E-mail: Miransari1@gmail.comColor versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/lpla.It has been previously indicated that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance the bioremediation abilities of their host plant. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a crop plant with some unique physiological properties, such as tolerance to salinity. However, its tolerance to other stresses such as heavy metals must be tested. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that barley can be efficiently used to treat heavy metals in symbiotic and non-symbiotic association with AM fungi. In a greenhouse experiment barley plants were inoculated with the AM species Glomus mosseae and grown in a soil polluted with cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), and lead (Pb). Relative to Cd and Co, mycorrhizal barley absorbed significantly higher amounts of Pb. AM species also significantly decreased Cd and Co uptake by barley indicating the alleviating effects of G. mosseae on the stress of such heavy metals.