Effect of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation on the Growth of Stylosanthes guianensis in Cadmium-Treated Soil

Abstract

Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) inoculation on the growth performance of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants grown in cadmium-treated soil was investigated using Stylosanthes guianensis as host plant and Glomus fasciculatum as the V AM fungi. Using the completely randomized design (CRD), plants inoculated or not inoculated with G. fasciculatum were planted on soil treated or not treated with cadmium. After twelve weeks, the growth parameters, namely plant height, number and total length of lateral branches, total number of leaves per plant, shoot and root fresh weight and dry weight, and nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) uptake were measured. Increasing values from control to V AM treatments of these growth parameters were observed. Cadmium content in shoots and roots were also measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. One-way CRD analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) were performed on the results from the different growth parameters, and a significant difference at a=0.05 between the treatments was observed. 1bis study shows that V AM-inoculation increases the overall growth and NP uptake of S. guianensis grown in both untreated and Cd-treated soil, and also increases the levels of Cd in the plant tissues.