Publication Type | J |
Authors | Carrasco, L., F. Caravaca, J. Alvarez-Rogel and A. Roldan |
Title | Microbial processes in the rhizosphere soil of a heavy metals-contaminated Mediterranean salt marsh: A facilitating role of AM fungi |
Source | Chemosphere |
Author Keywords | enzyme activities heavy metal arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mining waste salt marsh arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi red-clover plants colonization cultivation remediation infection biomass roots areas |
Abstract | We investigated the relationship of the zonal pattern followed by the vegetation in a polluted Mediterranean salt marsh, in semiarid south-eastern Spain, with the microbiological and biochemical properties (labile C fractions, oxidoreductases and hydrolases) of the rhizosphere soil of two halophyte species, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and Sarcocornia fruticosa, and with the degree of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation in their rhizospheres. Levels of plant biomass and cover were inversely related to heavy metal contents and salinity. The concentrations of Fe, Cu, Mn and Pb extracted with DTPA hardly varied among the different zones of the salt marsh. The dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities, the soluble C and water-soluble carbohydrates concentrations and the extent of root colonisation were greater in the salt marsh zones of lower soil salinity and lower metal concentration. Urease and beta-glucosidase activities were not detected in the salt marsh. Plant biomass and cover showed positive relationships with mycorrhizal colonisation (R = 0.773, P < 0.001; R = 0.874, P < 0.001, respectively). Mycorrhizal colonisation was negatively correlated with the contents of Pb and Zn in plant tissues. This work supports the view that reduced plant uptake of toxic metals, particularly lead, could be involved in the beneficial effects of AM fungi on plant development in Mediterranean salt marshes contaminated with mining wastes. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Author Address | CSIC, Ctr Edafol & Biol Aplicada Segura, Dept Soil & Water Conservat, Murcia 30100, Spain. Univ Politecn Catalunya, ETSIA, Dpto Prod Agr, Area Edafol & Quim Agr, Murcia 30203, Spain. Caravaca, F (reprint author), CSIC, Ctr Edafol & Biol Aplicada Segura, Dept Soil & Water Conservat, POB 164,Campus Espinardo, Murcia 30100, Spain. fcb@cebas.csic.es |
ISSN | 0045-6535 |
ISBN | 0045-6535 |
29-Character Source Abbreviation | Chemosphere |
Publication Date | Jun |
Year Published | 2006 |
Volume | 64 |
Issue | 1 |
Beginning Page | 104-111 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.11.038 |
Unique Article Identifier | WOS:000238799000014 |
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