Effects of mycorrhizae and fertilizer amendments on zinc tolerance of plants

In soils containing elevated levels of zinc, plant growth may be impaired because of Zn interference with P uptake by plants and because of detrimental effects of Zn toxicity itself. Because mycorrhizal fungi are known to improve uptake of plant P, the beneficial effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Zn tolerance of Andropogon gerardii Vitm. were assessed in soil amended with various levels of Zn and P. In the absence of P amendment, mycorrhizal fungi stimulated plant growth, but the degree of benefit depended on the inoculum source and the soil Zn level. Mycorrhizal fungi from a Zn contaminated site were more effective in increasing plant biomass at higher levels of Zn in the soil, whereas plant growth at lower levels of soil Zn was greater with mycorrhizal fungi from a non-contaminated site. Mycorrhizal fungus inoculation had no effect on shoot Zn concentration; however, inoculation significantly improved the plant P nutrition and therefore resulted in a high shoot P/Zn concentration ratio at all the soil Zn levels. To a certain extent, addition of P to the soil alleviated the Zn toxicity that had inhibited plant growth, but plant biomass tended to decrease with increasing soil Zn levels. Although P amendment improved P uptake, it also resulted in increased shoot Zn uptake.