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Mycorrhizae Increase Arsenic Uptake by the Hyperaccumulator Chinese Brake Fern ( Pteris vittata L.)
Author(s) -
Al Agely Abid,
Sylvia David M.,
Ma Lena Q.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2004.0411
Subject(s) - pteris vittata , fern , hyperaccumulator , frond , arsenic , botany , amendment , biology , nutrient , horticulture , soil water , soil contamination , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , political science , law
ABSTRACT Chinese brake fern ( Pteris vittata L.) is a hyperaccumulator of arsenic (As) that grows naturally on soils in the southern United States. It is reasonable to expect that mycorrhizal symbiosis may be involved in As uptake by this fern. This is because arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have a well‐documented role in increasing plant phosphorus (P) uptake, P and As have similar chemical properties, and ferns are known to be colonized by AM fungi. We conducted a factorial greenhouse experiment with three levels of As (0, 50, and 100 mg kg −1 ) and P (0, 25, and 50 mg kg −1 ) and with and without Chinese brake fern colonized by a community of AM fungi from an As‐contaminated site. We found that the AM fungi not only tolerated As amendment, but their presence increased frond dry mass at the highest As application rate. Furthermore, the AM fungi increased As uptake across a range of P levels, while P uptake was generally increased only when there was no As amendment. These data indicate that AM fungi have an important role in arsenic accumulation by Chinese brake fern. Therefore, to effectively phytoremediate As‐contaminated soils, the mycorrhizal status of ferns needs to be taken into account.