Potential of AM Fungi in Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals and Effect on Yield of Wheat Crop

Asif Khan, Muhammad Sharif, Amjad Ali, Syed Noor Muhammad Shah, Ishaq Ahmad Mian, Fazli Wahid, Bismillah Jan, Muhammad Adnan, Shah Nawaz, Nisar Ali

College of Resource and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.
Department of Horticulture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2014.511171                

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the potential of AM fungi in phytoremediation of heavy metals and its effect on yield of wheat crop. The experiment was conducted in CR Design with four replications during rabi 2012-13. Data showed no increase in grain and shoot yields by AMF inoculation with Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn at different levels but increased root yield, plant height, spike length and hundred grains weight of wheat as compared with uninoculated crop. Post-harvest soil Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn contents of 2, 4.4, 2.8 and 2.9 mg·kg^-1, respectively were maximum in uninoculated plants treated with Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn at triple of recommended level. No increases in plant P, N, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn uptakes were observed by the inoculation of AMF when compared with uninoculated crop. Maximum plant Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn uptakes of 160.5, 206, 1914.6 and 2653 g·ha^-1, respectively were recorded in uninoculated plants applied with Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn at triple of recommended levels. Wheat roots infection intensity by AMF increased with higher AMF soil spores density. Results suggest the potential of phytoremediation of contaminated soil to be improved by the inoculation of crops with AMF.

Keywords

AM Fungi, Heavy Metals, Phytoremediation, Nutrients Uptakes and Wheat Yield

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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