Uptake of atrazine and cadmium from soil by maize (Zea mays L.) in association with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus etunicatum.

A greenhouse pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus etunicatum on the uptake of atrazine (ATR) and cadmium (Cd) from soil by maize (Zea mays L.). Mycorrhizal colonization led to an increase in the accumulation of Cd and ATR in maize roots but a decrease in the shoots. Atrazine alleviated the adverse effects of Cd on maize growth, and this was more pronounced in the inoculated plants. An increase in Cd accumulation by maize roots was observed when ATR was also present. After harvest, the residual ATR concentration in the soil decreased markedly. With mycorrhizal inoculation the amount of residual ATR decreased more in the bulk soil but less in the rhizosphere soil compared to the noninoculated controls. Cadmium application significantly decreased the ATR residual concentrations in both the rhizosphere and bulk soils irrespective of inoculation treatment.