Arsenic tolerant Trichoderma sp. reduces arsenic induced stress in chickpea (Cicer arietinum).
Toxic metalloids including arsenic (As) can neither be eliminated nor destroyed from environment; however, they can be converted from toxic to less/non-toxic forms. The form of As species and their concentration determines its toxicity in plants. Therefore, the microbe mediated biotransformation of As is crucial for its plant uptake and toxicity. In the present study the role of As tolerant Trichoderma in modulating As toxicity in chickpea plants was explored. Chickpea plants grown in arsenate spiked soil under green house conditions were inoculated with two plant growth promoting Trichoderma strains, M-35 (As tolerant) and PPLF-28 (As sensitive). Total As concentration in chickpea tissue was comparable in both the Trichoderma treatments, however, differences in levels of organic and inorganic As (iAs) species were observed. The shift in iAs to organic As species ratio in tolerant Trichoderma treatment correlated with enhanced plant growth and nutrient content. Arsenic stress amelioration in tolerant Trichoderma treatment was also evident through rhizospheric microbial community and anatomical studies of the stem morphology. Down regulation of abiotic stress responsive genes (MIPS, PGIP, CGG) in tolerant Trichoderma + As treatment as compared to As alone and sensitive Trichoderma + As treatment also revealed that tolerant strain enhanced the plant's potential to cope with As stress as compared to sensitive one. Considering the bioremediation and plant growth promotion potential, the tolerant Trichoderma may appear promising for its utilization in As affected fields for enhancing agricultural productivity.
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India; CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India.
Pratibha
P
Tripathi
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Poonam C
PC
Singh
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Aradhana
A
Mishra
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Suchi
S
Srivastava
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Reshu
R
Chauhan
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Surabhi
S
Awasthi
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Seema
S
Mishra
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Sanjay
S
Dwivedi
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Preeti
P
Tripathi
CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India.
Alok
A
Kalra
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India. Electronic address: tripathird@gmail.com.
Rudra D
RD
Tripathi
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Chandra S
CS
Nautiyal
D000383:Agriculture; D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001711:Biotransformation; D029863:Cicer / Q000187:drug effects*; D063245:Plant Development / Q000187:drug effects; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic
Arsenic; Chickpea; Speciation; Trichoderma