Record ID No. |
1792 |
Author(s) |
Doherty, J.H., Ji, B.M., Casper, B.B , 2008 |
Affiliation |
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Biology, 415 S Univ Ave, Philadelphia,PA 19104 USA |
Title |
Testing nickel tolerance of Sorghastrum nutans and its associated soil microbial community from serpentine and prairie soils |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Environmental Pollution.151(3):593-598p. |
Categories |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Miscellaneous |
Organism |
n.a. |
Country |
Philadelphia,United States |
Abstracts |
Ecotypes of Sorghastrum nutans from a naturally metalliferous serpentine
grassland and the tallgrass prairie were assessed for Ni tolerance and their utility in
remediation of Ni-polluted soils. Plants were inoculated with serpentine arbuscular mycorrhizal
(AM) root inoculum or whole soil microbial communities, originating from either prairie or
serpentine, to test their effects on plant performance in the presence of Ni. Serpentine plants
had marginally higher Ni tolerance as indicated by higher survival. Ni reduced plant biomass and
AM root colonization for both ecotypes. The serpentine AM fungi and whole microbial community
treatments decreased plant biomass relative to uninoculated plants, while the prairie microbial
community had no effect. Differences in how the soil communities affect plant performance were
not reflected in patterns of root colonization by AM fungi. Thus, serpentine plants may be suited
for reclamation of Ni-polluted soils, but AM fungi that occur on serpentine do not improve Ni
tolerance. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |