Beneficial roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the alleviation of cadmium induced metabolic responses in Cajanus cajan l Millsp pigeonpea

Abstract

Study evaluated the effects of different AMF species in modulating physiological, biochemical and molecular attributes in pigeonpea plants subjected to Cd stress. Cd hampered growth, nutrient uptake, nitrogen fixation and productivity of stressed plants. Mycorrhizal fortification enhanced glomalin production to reduce Cd uptake and improved nutrient availability by increasing the soil enzymatic activities. Moreover, AMF strengthened the establishment of rhizobial symbiosis, osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant defense machinery and thiol metabolism. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis authenticated abundance of transcripts encoding metallothionein (MT) and phytochelatin synthase (PCS) in Cd-stressed AMF plants. R. intraradices played the most promising role in imparting Cd tolerance followed by F. mosseae and C. etunicatum while, C. claroideum was the least effective newline