Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi confer enhanced arsenate resistance on Holcus lanatus

C. Gonzalez-Chavez, P. J. Harris, J. Dodd, A. A. Meharg*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

177 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in arsenate resistance in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations is investigated here for two Glomus spp. isolated from the arsenate-resistant grass Holcus lanatus. Glomus mosseae and Glomus caledonium were isolated from H. lanatus growing on an arsenic-contaminated mine-spoil soil. The arsenate resistance of spores was compared with nonmine isolates using a germination assay. Short-term arsenate influx into roots and long-term plant accumulation of arsenic by plants were also investigated in uninfected arsenate resistant and nonresistant plants and in plants infected with mine and nonmine AMF. Mine AMF isolates were arsenate resistant compared with nonmine isolates. Resistant and nonresistant G. mosseae both suppressed high-affinity arsenate/phosphate transport into the roots of both resistant and nonresistant H. lanatus. Resistant AMF colonization of resistant H. lanatus growing in contaminated mine spoil reduced arsenate uptake by the host. We conclude that AMF have evolved arsenate resistance, and conferred enhanced resistance on H. lanatus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)163-171
Number of pages9
JournalNew Phytologist
Volume155
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
  • Arsenate resistance
  • Glomus mosseae
  • Holcus lanatus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

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