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Rhizosphere microbes are essential partners for plant stress tolerance. Recent studies indicate that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can facilitate the revegetation of soils contaminated by heavy metals though interacting with rhizosphere microbiome. However, it is unclear how AMF affect rhizosphere microbiome to improve the growth of plant under rare earth elements (REEs) stress. AMF (Claroideoglomus etunicatum) was inoculated to maize grown in soils spiked with Lanthanum (0 mg kg -1 , La0; 10 mg kg -1 , La10; 100 mg kg -1 , La100; 500 mg kg -1 , La500). Plant biomass, nutrient uptake, REE uptake and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community were evaluated. The results indicated that La100 and La500 decreased significantly root colonization rates and nutrition uptake (K, P, Ca and Mg content). La500 decreased significantly α-diversity indexes of bacterial and fungal community. AMF enhanced significantly the shoot and root fresh and dry weight of maize in all La treatments (except for the root fresh and dry weight of La0 and La10 treatment). For La100 and La500 treatments, AMF increased significantly nutrition uptake (K, P, Ca and Mg content) in shoot of maize by 27.40-441.77%. For La500 treatment, AMF decreased significantly shoot La concentration by 51.53% in maize, but increased significantly root La concentration by 30.45%. In addition, AMF decreased bacterial and fungal Shannon index in La0 treatment, but increased bacterial Shannon index in La500 treatment. Both AMF and La500 affected significantly the bacterial and fungal community composition, and AMF led to more influence than La. AMF promoted the enrichment of bacteria, including Planomicrobium, Lysobacter, Saccharothrix, Agrococcus, Microbacterium, Streptomyces, Penicillium and other unclassified genus, and fungi (Penicillium) in La500, which showed the function for promoting plant growth and tolerance of heavy metal. The study revealed that AMF can regulate the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal composition and foster certain beneficial microbes to enhance the tolerance of maize under La stress. Phytoremediation assisted by AMF is an attractive approach to ameliorate REEs-contaminated soils., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Accumulation of As (metalloid) degrades soil by negatively affecting the activities of soil enzymes, which in turn reduce growth and yield of the inhabiting plant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can impart metalloid tolerance in plants by secreting glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) which binds with As or inertly adsorb in the extraradical mycelial surface. However, profitable use of AM requires selection of the most efficient combination of host plant and fungal species. The current study, therefore designed to study the efficacy of 3 a.m. fungal species: Rhizoglomus intraradices (Ri), Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Claroideoglomus claroideum (Cc) in imparting arsenate As(V) and arsenite As(III) stress tolerance in Cicer arietinum (chickpea) genotypes (G) - relatively metalloid tolerant- HC 3 and sensitive- C 235. Roots were found to be more severly affected as compared to shoots which resulted into a major decline in uptake of nutrients, chlorophyll concentrations and yield with As(III) inducing more toxic effects than As(V). HC 3 established more effective mycorrhizal symbiosis and was able to extract higher nutrients from the soil than C 235. Ri was most beneficial in improving plant biomass, carbohydrate utilization and productivity followed by Fm and Cc which could be due to its capability to initiate highest percent colonization and least metalloid uptake in roots through higher glomalin production in the soil. Moreover, Ri was highly efficient in improving soil enzymes activities-phosphatases (PHAs), β-glucosidase (BGA) and invertase (INV), thereby, imparting metalloid tolerance in chickpea genotypes. The results suggested use of Ri-chickpea symbiosis as a promising strategy for ameliorating As stress in chickpea., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phytoremediation is an alternative for remediating soil contamination by copper, and its efficiency has been shown to increase when arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms are separately inoculated into the soil. This study evaluated the isolated and combined effects of inoculating earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi into a sandy soil on copper phytoremediation by Canavalia ensiformis. The plants were grown in a greenhouse in soil contaminated with 100 mg Cu kg -1 with and without being inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus clarum and the earthworm Eisenia andrei. The availabilities of solid-phase Cu and other nutrients in the soil solution and plant growth were evaluated along with Cu phytotoxicity based on photochemical efficiency and oxidative stress enzyme activity. Accumulation of Cu and other nutrients in the shoots and roots; mycorrhizal colonization, nodulation, and reproduction; and Cu accumulation in the earthworm tissues were also evaluated. The copper caused photosynthetic and biochemical damage that reduced the shoot dry weight by 44% and the root dry weight by 29%. However, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus alleviated the Cu toxicity to the plant and increased the shoot dry weight by 81% in the contaminated soil. The earthworms increased the Cu uptake and translocation to the shoot by 31%. The combined presence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and earthworms in the contaminated soil increased the growth and Cu content of the aerial plant tissues, yielding a 200% increase in Cu accumulation (metal content × biomass) in the C. ensiformis shoots. Combined inoculation with earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased copper phytoextraction by Canavalia ensiformis in a sandy soil., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This research is aimed to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi on soil microbial activity and carbon mineralization in the maize rhizosphere under potted condition. Glomus etunicatum was used for our experiment. Results showed that AM symbiosis increased the levels of microorganism in the maize rhizosphere soil, and enhanced activity of soil microbial enzymes. After inoculating AM fungi, the contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and readily oxidizable carbon (ROC) in the rhizosphere soil of maize increased with varying degrees. We obtained strong evidence that higher contents of MBC, DOC, ROC, superior number of microbes and stronger soil enzyme activities could be responsible for the higher rate of carbon mineralization in AM fungi treatment. AM fungi inoculation was confirmed to be effective to improve the soil quality for larger-scale ecoengineering., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The herbicide Roundup (and glyphosate, its active ingredient) is extensively used for weed control on a worldwide scale. It is absorbed after foliar application and quickly translocated inside the plant. In this study, we investigated the effects of Roundup speed, a commercial glyphosate formulation, on the structural composition (dominance of microbial groups, phospholipid fatty acid analysis - PLFA) and functional diversity (use of carbon sources, Multiple Substrate Induced Respiration - MSIR) of soil microorganisms. We specifically aimed at understanding the potential impact of biotic interactions on herbicide effects and included plants, earthworms, and endomycorrhizal fungi in the experimental setup. For this, we grew clover (Trifolium repens) in the greenhouse and added mycorrhizal inoculum (Glomus mosseae) and earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) to the pots. Two weeks after foliar Roundup application and subsequent plant death, the pots were destructively sampled. The application resulted in a significant increase of microbial respiration (SIR) by approximately 30%. A multivariate analysis of the MSIR data exhibited small but significant differences between the microbial communities of treated and untreated pots, while no significant difference was apparent for the PLFA data. Bacterial PLFAs generally decreased following herbicide application, while mycorrhizal and fungal PLFAs were not affected. We did not find a consistent difference between the fatty acid markers of gram negative and gram positive bacteria. For all investigated parameters, there were highly significant differences between the upper (0-5 cm depth) and lower (5-10 cm) soil layers. The fact that rooting density differed by a factor of 3.5 between the two layers indicated that herbicide effects were especially pronounced in the clover rhizosphere and were likely due to changes in root exudate composition. We found significant, though very small, interactions between Roundup and other experimental factors (especially mycorrhizal inoculum)., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can protect plants against cadmium (Cd) stress, and are the most prominent symbiotic fungi for contribution to phytoremediation. However, the tolerance mechanism for AM symbiosis on Cd toxicity still remains unclear, especially the related molecular mechanisms. In this study, different Cd treatments were applied to two soybean genotypes with different Cd tolerance in the presence or absence of AM fungal inoculation. The results showed that Cd addition obviously decreased AM colonization. AM symbiosis significantly increased plant dry weight, root growth, and P acquisition in Cd-tolerant HX3 genotype at Cd addition treatments. The effectiveness was associated with a concomitant increased expression of the AM inducible phosphate (Pi) transporter genes GmPT8, GmPT9, GmPT10, and upregulated expression of P-type heavy metal ATPase gene GmHMA19. Additionally, AM fungal inoculation effectively impacted the partitioning of Mg, Cu and Zn, including increased Mg, and decreased Cu and Zn relative concentrations in shoots of Cd tolerant HX3. Taken together, these results suggest that AM symbiosis can alleviate Cd toxicity in soybean through enhanced P nutrition, up-regulated expression of AM inducible GmPTs and GmHMA19, as well as, the alteration of the partitioning of essential nutrient elements., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. has been reported to form a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). However, the tolerance mechanism for AMF symbiosis on cadmium (Cd) phytotoxicity still remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on Cd-stressed (0, 1, and 20mgL -1 ) roots, stems, and leaves of P. australis with regard to subcellular Cd distribution and chemical forms of Cd. In addition, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate variations in subcellular structures and functional groups in plant organs. The results showed that AMF inoculation could induce selective Cd distribution at subcellular levels, depending on different Cd treatments. The investigation of the chemical forms illustrated that AMF inoculation could alleviate Cd toxicity in all organs. Increases were observed in the ratios of undissolved Cd (F HAc ) and oxalate Cd (F HCl ), while decreases were observed in pectates and protein-integrated Cd (F NaCl ) as well as water soluble Cd (F W ). Hydroxyl (-OH), amide (-NH), carboxyl (C=O), and phosphate (P=O) groups as well as C-O and C-N stretching played predominant roles for the enhancement of Cd tolerance in response to AMF inoculation. These results provide instructive evidence for the mechanisms by which AMF inoculation enhances the Cd tolerance of P. australis via Cd uptake and distribution., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pesticide contamination of the environment can result from agricultural practices. Persistence of pesticide residues is a threat to the soil biota including plant roots and beneficial microorganisms, which support an important number of soil ecosystem services. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key symbiotic microorganisms contributing to plant nutrition. In the present study, we assessed whether AMF could indicate eventual side effects of pesticides when directly applied to field soils. We evaluated the ecotoxicological impact of a cocktail of three commonly used agricultural pesticides (fenhexamid, folpel, deltamethrin) on the abundance and composition of the AMF community in vineyard (Montagne de Saint-Emilion) and arable (Martincourt) soils subjected to different agricultural practices. The dissipation of applied pesticides was monitored by multiresidual analyses to determine the scenario of exposure of the AMF community. Diversity analysis before application of the pesticide cocktail showed that the AMF communities of vineyard soils, subjected to mechanical weeding or grass cover, and of the arable soil subjected to intensive agriculture, were dominated by Glomerales. Ribotypes specific to each soil and to each agricultural practice in the same soil were found, with the highest abundance and diversity of AMF being observed in the vineyard soil with a grass-cover. The abundance of the global AMF community (Glomeromycota) and of three taxa of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum/C. claroideum) was evaluated after pesticide application. The abundance of Glomeromycota decreased in both soils after pesticide application while the abundance of Claroideoglomus and F. mosseae decreased only in the arable soil. These results show that higher doses of pesticide exposure did not affect the global abundance, but altered the composition, of the AMF community. Resilience of the AMF community composition was observed only in the vineyard soil, where F. mosseae was the most tolerant taxon to pesticide exposure., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effect of triclosan (5-chloro-2-[2,4-dichlorophenoxy]phenol; TCS), on spore germination, hyphal growth, and hyphal branching of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus intraradices spores was evaluated at exposure concentrations of 0.4 and 4.0 μg/L in a static renewal exposure system. To determine if potential effects were mycotoxic or a consequence of impaired signaling between a host plant and the fungal symbiont, spores were incubated with and without the addition of a root exudate. Exposed spores were harvested at days 7, 14, and 21. AM spore germination, hyphal growth, and hyphal branching were significantly lower in both TCS concentrations compared to controls in non-root exudate treatments suggesting direct mycotoxic effects of TCS on AM development. Greater hyphal growth and hyphal branching in controls and 0.4μg/L TCS treatments with root exudate compared to non-root exudate treatments demonstrated growth stimulation by signaling chemicals present in the root exudate. This stimulatory effect was absent in the 4.0 μg/L TCS treatments indicating a direct effect on plant signaling compounds or plant signal response., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present work underlined the negative effects of increasing CaCO(3) concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mM) both on the chicory root growth and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus irregulare development in monoxenic system. CaCO(3) was found to reduce drastically the main stages of G. irregulare life cycle (spore germination, germinative hyphae elongation, root colonization, extraradical hyphae development and sporulation) but not to inhibit it completely. The root colonization drop was confirmed by the decrease in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal marker C16:1ω5 amounts in the mycorrhizal chicory roots grown in the presence of CaCO(3). Oxidative damage evaluated by lipid peroxidation increase measured by (i) malondialdehyde (MDA) production and (ii) the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase (POD) activities, was highlighted in chicory roots grown in the presence of CaCO(3). However, MDA formation was significantly higher in non-mycorrhizal roots as compared to mycorrhizal ones. This study pointed out the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to enhance plant tolerance to high levels of CaCO(3) by preventing lipid peroxidation and so less cell membrane damage., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Among chemicals that are widely spread both in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, benzo[a]pyrene is a major source of concern. However, little is known about its adverse effects on plants, as well as about the role of mycorrhization in protection of plant grown in benzo[a]pyrene-polluted conditions. Hence, to contribute to a better understanding of the adverse effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the partners of mycorrhizal symbiotic association, benzo[a]pyrene-induced oxidative stress was studied in transformed Cichorium intybus roots grown in vitro and colonized or not by Glomus intraradices. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus development (colonization, extraradical hyphae length, and spore formation) was significantly reduced in response to increasing concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (35-280 microM). The higher length of arbuscular mycorrhizal roots, compared to non-arbuscular mycorrhizal roots following benzo[a]pyrene exposure, pointed out a lower toxicity of benzo[a]pyrene in arbuscular mycorrhizal roots, thereby suggesting protection of the roots by mycorrhization. Accordingly, in benzo[a]pyrene-exposed arbuscular mycorrhizal roots, statistically significant decreases were observed in malondialdehyde concentration and 8-hydroxy-2'-desoxyguanosine formation. The higher superoxide dismutase activity detected in mycorrhizal chicory roots could explain the benzo[a]pyrene tolerance of the colonized roots. Taken together, these results support an essential role of mycorrhizal fungi in protecting plants submitted to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, notably by reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced oxidative stress damage.