Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce arsenic uptake and improve plant growth in Lens culinaris

PLoS One. 2019 May 16;14(5):e0211441. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211441. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a carcinogenic and hazardous substance that poses a serious risk to human health due to its transport into the food chain. The present research is focused on the As transport in different lentil genotypes and the role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in mitigation of As phyto-toxicity. Arsenic transport from soil to root, shoot and grains in different lentil genotypes was analyzed by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrophotometry. AMF were applied for the reduction of As uptake as well as the improvement of plant growth in lentil genotypes. Arsenic phyto-toxicity was dose-dependent as evidenced by relatively higher shoot length, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot in 5 and 15 mgkg-1 As-treated lentil plants than that in 100 mgkg-1 As-treated lentil. Arsenic accumulation occurred in roots and shoots of all BARI-released lentil genotypes. Arsenic accumulation in grains was found higher in BARI Mashur 1 than other lentil genotypes. AMF treatment significantly increased growth and biomass accumulation in lentil compared to that in non-AMF plants. Furthermore, AMF effectively reduced the As concentrations in roots and shoots of lentil plants grown at 8 and 45 mgkg-1 As-contaminated soils. This study revealed remarkable divergence in As accumulation among different BARI-released lentil genotypes; however, AMF could reduce As uptake and mitigate As-induced phyto-toxicity in lentil. Taken together, our results suggest a great potential of AMF in mitigating As transfer in root and shoot mass and reallocation to grains, which would expand lentil cultivation in As-affected areas throughout the world.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Genotype
  • Lens Plant / growth & development*
  • Lens Plant / metabolism*
  • Lens Plant / microbiology
  • Mycorrhizae / physiology*
  • Phosphorus / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Plant Shoots / growth & development
  • Plant Shoots / metabolism
  • Plant Shoots / microbiology
  • Soil Pollutants / metabolism

Substances

  • Soil Pollutants
  • Phosphorus
  • Arsenic

Grants and funding

This research was jointly supported by The Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship Trust (Ministry of Science and Technology) Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) and the funding entitled ‘‘Development of arsenic mitigation techniques in lentil’’. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.