Effect of Glomus intraradices fungus on quantitative, qualitative traits of wheat under nickel stress

In order to study effect of mycorrhiza fungi application to mitigate adverse effects of nickel (Ni), a greenhouse experiment was conducted in Varamin, Iran during 2015 growing season on wheat. The experiment was conducted as factorial based on a completely randomized design, with four levels of nickel (0, 60, 120 and 180 mg per kg of soil) and two levels of mycorrhiza fungi application (with and without mycorrhiza fungi application), in three replications. The results showed that the effect of nickel treatment was significant for all measured experimental traits. The increase of nickel contamination caused a significant decrease of plant height, total dry weight per plant, root dry weight per plant and total chlorophyll content whereas, increased catalase enzyme activity and the accumulation of nickel in leaves and roots. Also mycorrhiza fungi application increased plant height, total dry weight per plant, root dry weight per plant, total chlorophyll content and the accumulation of nickel in roots whereas, decreased catalase enzyme activity and the accumulation of nickel in shoots. Generally the results of the present study indicated that mycorrhiza fungi application reduces the harmful effects of nickel stress and decreased oxidative stress damage in wheat plant.