Effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the degradation of DEHP in soil

The effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi( Acaulospora lavis ) on the degradation of di(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) in soil was studies. Cowpea plants (Pigna sinensis) were used as host plants and grown in a specially designed rhizobox. The experimental results indicated that, both in sterile and non sterile soil, mycorrhizal colonization rates were much higher in the mycorrhizal plants than in the non mycorrhizal plants. Addition of 4 mg/kg DEHP slightly affected mycorrhizal colonization, but the addition of 100 mg/kg DEHP significantly decreased mycorrhizal colonization. DEHP degradation in the mycorrhizosphere(Ms) and hyphosphere(Hs), especially in the Hs, increased after inoculation with Acaulospora lavis . It is concluded that mycorrhizal hyphae play an important role in the plant uptake, degradation and translocation of DEHP. The mechanism might be attributed to increased numbers of bacteria and actinomycetes and activity of dehydrogenase, urease and acid phosphatase in the Ms and Hs by mycorrhizal fungi.