The Effect of Mycorrhizal Fungi on Physiological and Biochemical Properties of Wheat (Triticum aestivume L.) in Arsenic Contaminated Soils

In order to study effect of mycorrhiza fungi application to reduced adverse effects of arsenic on wheat, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in Varamin, Tehran, Iran in a completely randomized design with three replication in 2018. The treatments included four levels of arsenic (0, 40, 80 and 120 mg.kg-1 of soil) and two levels mycorrhiza fungi application (with and with out mycorrhiza fungi application). The results showed that intraction effect of arsenic and mycorrhiza treatment was significant for all experimental traits. The increasing in arsenic levels caused a significant decreased in leaf area index, chlorophyll content, grain weight and total dry weight per plant. Whereas, increased proline content, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activity. Also the results showed that mycorrhiza fungi application reduced adverse effects of arsenic and led to increas in yield components and decreased proline content, antioxidant activity in leaves. The highest leaf area index (6.88), total chlorophyll content (1.89 mg.g-1 FW), thousand grain weight (42.3 g) and total dry weight per plant (31.5 g) were achieved in without arsenic + mycorrhiza application. The highest malondialdehyde (13.77 µmol.g FW-1), prolin (4.06 mg.g-1 FW), superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase enzyme activity (510.2, 182.2 and 14.18 unit activity,) were observed in 120 mg per kg of soil+ none application mycorrhiza. According results of the present study mycorrhiza fungi application reduces the harmful effects of arsenic stress and symbiosis with wheat plant results in higher yield components of wheat and concentration of phosphorous in the shoot of the plant.