Consequences of Endophytic Fungus Piriformospora Indica Inoculation on Phytoremediation of Lead by Tall Fescue (Festuca Arundinacea cv. Tomahawk)

Microbial inoculation is effective in improving plant growth and tolerance to environmental stresses, and green refinement of contaminated soils with heavy metals. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of Piriformospora indica inoculation on phytoremediation of lead by tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea cv. Tomahawk) at different levels of Pb contamination. It was performed in pot experiment as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications which the experimental factors included inoculation, and non-inoculation with P. indica, and Pb contamination (0, 500, and 800 mg kg-1 of soil). Pb contamination at levels of 500 and 800 mg kg-1 of soil caused a decrease of 31.46% and 43.98% of shoot dry weight, 31.2% and 44.32% of relative yield, 10.89%, and 15.74% of leaf relative water content, 47.8%, and 47.55% of chlorophyll a, 47.41%, and 50.22% of chlorophyll b, 5.22%, and 11.64% of root phosphorus content, 11.44%, and 14.47% leaf nitrogen content, and increase of 27.49% and 20.89% of leaf proline and 6.13% and 14.71% of leaf soluble sugars respectively. P. indica inoculation in compared with non- inoculation in Pb contamination at both 500 and 800 mg kg-1 of soil by increasing the accumulation of 26.34% and 18.67% Pb in roots as well as increasing the 64.13% and 59.83% root metal extraction caused an increase of 40.22% and 18.12% of root fresh and 51.22% and 50.59% dry weight, 44.32% and 40.72% of chlorophyll a and 16.98% and 33.95% of chlorophyll b content, 15.71% and 17.6% of root phosphorus concentration and 16.21% and 13.92% of shoot phosphorus concentration, respectively. It is inferred that microbial inoculation with P. indica increases the accumulation of Pb in the roots of Festuca arundinacea and it is suggested that P. indica-inoculated Festuca arundinacea cv. Tomahawk can be used as biologically useful approach in phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soils.