Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Lead Bioremediation by Cerasusmahaleb L. Mill.

One of the most important results of human industrial activities is the increased concentration of heavy metals in the soil. Application of mycorrhizal symbiosis is one of the bioremediation methods of heavy metals contaminated soils. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of mycorrhizal fungi in lead phytoremediation by Cerasus mahaleb in soil contaminated with different levels of lead. The treatments were three levels of mycorrhizal fungi and three levels of soil contaminated with lead in four replications. The results showed that the percentage of root colonization decreased by increasing soil contamination with lead. Also, in the highest level of soil contamination, the mixed mycorrhizal treatment had the highest percentage of root colonization. The transfer factor (TF) of lead in stems and leaves in the soil with high contamination was more than low contamination. Mixed mycorrhizal treatmentshowed the highest effect in lead transfer to leaf and stem. The highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) were related to soil with high contamination. Also, the mixed mycorrhizal treatment had the best performance in increasing BCF and BAC. The amount of BCF was greater than BAC and TF and was close to one (0.9). Although  C. mahaleb seedlings could accumulate lead in roots and transfer it to shoot, they effectively stabilized lead in root and thus decreased lead translocation from soil to plant shoot.