title: Effect of endophytic fungi on cadmium tolerance and bioaccumulation by Festuca arundinacea and Festuca pratensis.
abstract: Endophytic fungi are a group of fungi that live asymptomatically inside plant tissue. These fungi may increase host plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The effect of Neotyphodium endophytes in two grass species (Festuca arundinacea and Festuca pratensis) on cadmium (Cd) tolerance, accumulation and translocation has been our main objective. The plants were grown in a hydroponic system under different Cd concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg L(-1)) for 6 weeks. They were also grown in soil spiked with different concentrations of Cd (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg(-1)) for 2 months. The results from all Cd treatments showed higher biomass production (12-24%) and higher potential to accumulate Cd in roots (6-16%) and shoots (6-20%) of endophyte-infected plants than endophyte-free plants. Cadmium accumulation by plants indicated that the grasses were capable of Cd hyperaccumulation, a property that was augmented after endophyte infection. Maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) revealed that Cd stress was significantly reduced in endophyte-infected plants compared to non-infected ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. soleimani57@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hajabbasi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afyuni
authors.forename: Aghafakhr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirlohi
authors.forename: Ole K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Borggaard
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Holm
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001692:Biological Transport; D018533:Biomass; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D031751:Festuca / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium