title: Remediation of PAH-contaminated soil by the combination of tall fescue, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and epigeic earthworms.
abstract: A 120-day experiment was performed to investigate the effect of a multi-component bioremediation system consisting of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) (Glomus caledoniun L.), and epigeic earthworms (Eisenia foetida) for cleaning up polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soil. Inoculation with AMF and/or earthworms increased plant yield and PAH accumulation in plants. However, PAH uptake by tall fescue accounted for a negligible portion of soil PAH removal. Mycorrhizal tall fescue significantly enhanced PAH dissipation, PAH degrader density and polyphenol oxidase activity in soil. The highest PAH dissipation (93.4%) was observed in the combination treatment: i.e., AMF+earthworms+tall fescue, in which the soil PAH concentration decreased from an initial value of 620 to 41 mg kg(-1) in 120 days. This concentration is below the threshold level required for Chinese soil PAH quality (45 mg kg(-1) dry weight) for residential use.
authors.affiliation: School of Information and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China. Electronic address: luyanfei819@163.com.
authors.forename: Yan-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333403, China.
authors.forename: Mang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D031751:Festuca / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D055137:Glomeromycota / Q000378:metabolism*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D004156:Catechol Oxidase
keywords: AMF; Phytoremediation; Polyphenol oxidase; qPCR