Growth and lead uptake by Parkinsonia aculeata L. inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices

Abstract

The increased lead (Pb) pollution in the biosphere has resulted in serious environmental problems, so it is essential to evaluate phytoremediation strategies for contaminated soils. This study evaluated the growth and Pd absorption capacity of Pakinsonia aculeata, inoculated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices) over 18 weeks under greenhouse conditions. Treatments included inoculated and non-inoculated plants combined with six Pb concentrations (0, 40, 80, 160, 320, 640 mg·L⁻¹) in the form of Pb(NO₃)₂. Results showed that mycorrhizal colonization in inoculated plants ranged from 5.0 to 6.7% and favored plant growth. Pb levels and AMF-inoculation had no effects on chlorophyll fluorescence values. AMF-plants absorbed significantly more Pb in roots (237.97 mg·kg⁻¹) than control plants (202.85 mg·kg⁻¹), as well as high translocation to shoots (27.02 mg·kg⁻¹) under the high Pb dose. The increase in Pb concentration reduced the P concentration in roots, and the P and N concentrations in shoots; however, the absorption and translocation of Ca and Mg was increased in shoots. Inoculation of R. intraradices improved both growth and Pb uptake of P. aculeata, under greenhouse conditions suggesting that this tree species may be potentially studied for detoxifying Pb-polluted soils.

Keywords:

• AMF
• heavy metal
• Mexican palo-verde
• phytostabilization
• soil pollution

Acknowledgments

Authors thanks to CONAFOR for donation of Parkinsonia aculeata seeds. We also thank to the Dr. Juan José Almaraz, Dr. Ronald Ferrera Cerrato, Dr. Libia Trejo Téllez, and their collaborators for technical assistance provided for this work. Also, M.A.G-V thanks the financial support provided by the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT) during his master in science graduate program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).