Journal Article

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Confer Enhanced Arsenate Resistance on Holcus lanatus

Meharg, A. A., Gonzalez-Chavez, C., Dodd, J., Harris, P. J.

2002

Overview

• The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in arsenate resistance in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations is investigated here for two Glomus spp. isolated from the arsenate-resistant grass Holcus lanatus. • Glomus mosseae and Glomus caledonium were isolated from H. lanatus growing on an arsenic-contaminated mine-spoil soil. The arsenate resistance of spores was compared with nonmine isolates using a germination assay. Short-term arsenate influx into roots and long-term plant accumulation of arsenic by plants were also investigated in uninfected arsenate resistant and nonresistant plants and in plants infected with mine and nonmine AMF. • Mine AMF isolates were arsenate resistant compared with nonmine isolates. Resistant and nonresistant G. mosseae both suppressed high-affinity arsenate/phosphate transport into the roots of both resistant and nonresistant H. lanatus. Resistant AMF colonization of resistant H. lanatus growing in contaminated mine spoil reduced arsenate uptake by the host. • We conclude that AMF have evolved arsenate resistance, and conferred enhanced resistance on H. lanatus.

• Publisher: Blackwell Science,Blackwell Science Ltd,Blackwell
• Subject: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions / arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi / arsenate resistance / Arsenates / Arsenic / Biological and medical sciences / Economic plant physiology / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / fungal spores / Glomus caledonium / Glomus mosseae / Holcus lanatus / host plants / Microbial colonization / mine spoil / Mosses / Mycorrhizal fungi / Parasitism and symbiosis / Phosphates / Plant physiology and development / Plant roots / Plants / Soil fungi / Soil pollution / spore germination / Symbiosis / Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...) / vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae