Effects of Glomus mosseae strains of different origin on plant macro- and micronutrient uptake in Cd-polluted and unpolluted soils

Abstract

In the present study, changes in the infectivity and effectiveness of four Glomus mosseae strains of different origin were investigated in calcareous loamy chernozem soils treated with Cd at three levels (0, 50, 100 mg Cd kg −1 ) in a pot experiment. Frequency of infection (F%), arbuscular richness (a%) and shoot dry matter, macro-(N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg) and microelements (Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn, Mo, Co) and the Cd content of the host plants were compared to determine whether there was any variability in infectivity and effectiveness between G. mosseae strains of different origin. Functional diversity was found in the infectivity and effectiveness of the studied G. mosseae strains. In Cd-treated soil, AMF inoculation was beneficial to the plant growth, P uptake and shoot Cd content of the host. However, the higher uptake of other macro- and microelements was noted for non-mycorrhizal plants compared to mycorrhizal plants. The lower shoot content of some elements did not cause nutrient deficiency in mycorrhizal plants. The present results support the hypothesis that in polluted soils, the development of mycorrhizal symbiosis has the potential for AMF to protect their hosts against Cd toxicity rather than to improve nutrient uptake.