M Jiang1, L Cao, R Zhang. 1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhongshan (Sun Yatsen) University, Guangzhou, PR China.
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate the effect of Acacia auriculaeformis-associated fungi on the growth of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa Bailey] in Cd- and Ni-contaminated soils and design novel plant-fungi associations for bioremediation purpose. METHODS AND RESULTS: Endophytic Trichoderma H8 and rhizosphere Aspergillus G16 were applied for rhizoremediation of Cd-, Ni-, and Cd-Ni combination-contaminated soils through association with B. juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa. Compared with the noninoculated control plants, inoculation with Trichoderma H8 produced 109%, 41% and 167% more fresh weight (FW) plant yields in the Cd-, Ni-, and Cd-Ni-contaminated soils, respectively (P < 0.05). Similarly, plants inoculated with Aspergillus G16 produced 109%, 47% and 44% more FW plant yields in these contaminated soils, respectively. Plants co-inoculated with these two strains produced 118%, 100% and 178% more FW plant yields, respectively. The inoculations also increased the translocation factors and metal bioconcentration factors. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of phytoextraction for B. juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa was enhanced after inoculating with Acacia-associated fungi. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of plant-fungi association may be a promising strategy to remediate metal-contaminated soils.
AIMS: To evaluate the effect of Acacia auriculaeformis-associated fungi on the growth of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa Bailey] in Cd- and Ni-contaminated soils and design novel plant-fungi associations for bioremediation purpose. METHODS AND RESULTS: Endophytic Trichoderma H8 and rhizosphere Aspergillus G16 were applied for rhizoremediation of Cd-, Ni-, and Cd-Ni combination-contaminated soils through association with B. juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa. Compared with the noninoculated control plants, inoculation with Trichoderma H8 produced 109%, 41% and 167% more fresh weight (FW) plant yields in the Cd-, Ni-, and Cd-Ni-contaminated soils, respectively (P < 0.05). Similarly, plants inoculated with Aspergillus G16 produced 109%, 47% and 44% more FW plant yields in these contaminated soils, respectively. Plants co-inoculated with these two strains produced 118%, 100% and 178% more FW plant yields, respectively. The inoculations also increased the translocation factors and metal bioconcentration factors. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of phytoextraction for B. juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa was enhanced after inoculating with Acacia-associated fungi. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of plant-fungi association may be a promising strategy to remediate metal-contaminated soils.