Abstract

CARREON-ABUD, Y; BELTRAN-NAMBO, MA  and  MARTINEZ TRUJILLO, M. Protective effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) exposed to Cr(VI). Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2013, vol.82, n.1, pp.127-134. ISSN 1851-5657.

Chromium (Cr) is a highly toxic non-essential metal for microorganisms and plants; due to its frequent industrial use, it has become a pollutant for different agroecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with most angiosperms and provide them with beneficial effects on the absorption of some nutrients. Moreover, it has been reported that in some cases the AMF can confer greater tolerance to plants in the presence of heavy metals. The tomato (Solanum lycorpersicum) is an important crop in Mexico. In most cases, it grows under applied irrigation water from reservoirs which include domestic and industrial wastes. In this study we determined the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the protection of tomato plants in soils supplemented with different concentrations of Cr: 1000 ppm (3.9 mM), 3000 ppm (10.2 mM) and 6000 ppm (20.4 mM). Mycorrhizal colonization, the size and dry weight of shoots, the size and dry weigth of roots, and survival, were assessed. The results showed that the presence of Cr increases mycorrhizal colonization, as a possible strategy of the plant to better resist the harmful e›ects of metal. The survival of plants was greater in the presence of AMF under exposure to Cr 6000 ppm. Inoculation with AMF had a protective e›ect in plants inoculated with Cr in the root dry weight and size of shoots. We believe that the tomato plants inoculated with AMF could be integrated into the culture of this plant to mitigate the problems of the presence of heavy metals in toxic concentrations.

Keywords : Mycorrhiza; Chromium; Tomato.

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