Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in wheat grown in copper contaminated soil

At high soil concentrations, copper (Cu) is toxic to plant development. Symbiosis carried out between microorganisms and plant species are alternatives to minimize plant toxicity in copper contaminated soil. The present study aimed to select species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the development of wheat plants in copper contaminated soil. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4 × 6 factorial arrangement, with four sources of inocula: three species of arbuscular mycorrhizae (Acaulospora colombiana, Gigaspora Margarita and Rhizophagus clarus) and one without inoculum (control), and six doses of copper in the soil (0, 80, 160, 240, 320, and 400 mg kg-1), with seven replications. Plant height, root length, root volume, root dry mass, specific surface area, average root diameter, root, shoot and grain Cu content and mycorrhizal colonization rate were evaluated. Root dry mass and mycorrhizal colonization were negatively affected by high Cu doses in the soil. The mycorrhizal isolates Acaulospora Colombiana and Gigaspora Margarita provide greater wheat height, root length and specific surface area and lower Cu content. Mycorrhizal colonization with the fungi Acaulospora Colombiana, Gigaspora Margarita and Rhizophagus clarus results in lower copper content in wheat shoots and grains.