title: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi decrease radiocesium accumulation in Medicago truncatula.
abstract: The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant radiocesium uptake and accumulation remains ambiguous. This is probably due to the presence of other soil microorganisms, the variability of soil characteristics and plant nutritional status or the availability of its chemical analogue, potassium (K). Here, we used an in vitro culture system to study the impact of increased concentration of K on radiocesium accumulation in non K-starved mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula plants. In the presence of AMF radiocesium uptake decreased regardless of the concentration of K, and its translocation from root to shoot was also significantly lower. Potassium also reduced the accumulation of radiocesium in plants but to a lesser extent than mycorrhization, and without any effect on translocation. These results suggest that AMF in combination with K can play a key role in reducing radiocesium uptake and its subsequent translocation to plant shoots, thereby representing good potential for improved phytomanagement of contaminated areas.
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Laboratoire de Mycologie, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gyuricza
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Declerck
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dupré de Boulois
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D046913:Medicago truncatula / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011188:Potassium