Effect of Endophytic Fungi on Cadmium Tolerance and Bioaccumulation by Festuca Arundinacea and Festuca Pratensis

Abstract

Endophytic fungi are a group of fungi that live asymptomatically inside plant tissue. These fungi may increase host plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The effect of Neotyphodium endophytes in two grass species (Festuca arundinacea and Festuca pratensis) on cadmium (Cd) tolerance, accumulation and translocation has been our main objective. The plants were grown in a hydroponic system under different Cd concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg L⁻¹) for 6 weeks. They were also grown in soil spiked with different concentrations of Cd (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg⁻¹) for 2 months. The results from all Cd treatments showed higher biomass production (12–24%) and higher potential to accumulate Cd in roots (6–16%) and shoots (6–20%) of endophyte-infected plants than endophyte-free plants. Cadmium accumulation by plants indicated that the grasses were capable of Cd hyperaccumulation, a property that was augmented after endophyte infection. Maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) revealed that Cd stress was significantly reduced in endophyte-infected plants compared to non-infected ones.

KEYWORDS:

• Phytoremediation
• tall fescue
• meadow fescue
• Neotyphodium
• heavy metals

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to Dr. M. Sabzalian, Mrs. Ghasemi, and Mrs. Samira Akbar for their experimental assistance. The financial support of this project under the contract 8704602 by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) is appreciated.