title: Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza and Rhizobium on phytoremediation by alfalfa of an agricultural soil contaminated with weathered PCBs: a field study.
abstract: A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus caledonium and/or Rhizobium meliloti on phytoremediation of an agricultural soil contaminated with weathered PCBs by alfalfa grown for 180 days. Planting alfalfa (P), alfalfa inoculated with G. caledonium (P + AM), alfalfa inoculated with R. meliloti (P + R), and alfalfa co-inoculated with R. meliloti and G. caledonium (P+AM+R) decreased significantly initial soil PCB concentrations by 8.1, 12.0, 33.8, and 43.5%, respectively. Inoculation with R. meliloti and/or G. caledonium (P+AM+R) increased the yield of alfalfa, and the accumulation of PCBs in the shoots. Soil microbial counts and the carbon utilization ability of the soil microbial community increased when alfalfa was inoculated with R. meliloti and/or G. caledonium. Results of this field study suggest that synergistic interactions between AMF and Rhizobium may have great potential to enhance phytoremediation by alfalfa of an agricultural soil contaminated with weathered PCBs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xianghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wuxing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhengao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christie
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D002681:China; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000502:physiology*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls