Contribution of Glomalin Produced by Rhizophagus irregularis to Root Stabilization of Cd by White Clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Root stabilization of heavy metals (HMs) by glomalin is one of the protective mechanisms of mycorrhizal fungi in response to metal stress. Considering this hypothesize, the contribution of Rhizophagus irregularis in symbiosis with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to root stabilization of Cd, glomalin production by the fungus, and Cd sequestration was investigated. A pot culture experiment was conducted as completely randomized block design by two factors including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (inoculated with R. irregularis and non-inoculated) and four levels of Cd (0, 15, 30 and 45 µM) with five replications. The results showed that the root colonization by R. irregularis improved phosphorus nutrition, shoot and root dry weights compared to the non-mycorrhizal plants. With increasing of Cd concentration, plant uptake and extraction efficiency of Cd increased but Cd translocation efficiency decreased. Uptake efficiency of Cd in mycorrhizal plants was higher than non-mycorrhizal ones. Translocation efficiency of Cd in mycorrhizal plants was lower than non-mycorrhizal ones, although this factor showed no significant difference between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Moreover, Cd uptake by roots was higher than shoots and this portion in mycorrhizal plants was higher than non-mycorrhizal ones. Therefore, mycorrhizal clover plants had higher contribution to root stabilization of Cd. Glomalin production and its Cd sequestration capacity was significantly increased as Cd concentration increased. As a result, higher contribution of mycorrhizal roots to Cd uptake can be due to sequestration of Cd in fungal structures inside the roots. Consequently, glomalin could be considered as an induced-stress protein as well as a vital and effective component of spore and hyphal cell wall of the fungus. Glomalin as a heat shock protein, has important role in Cd root stabilization via protection of host plant from toxic effects of Cd and reduction of the Cd bioavailability.