Arsenite transporters expression in rice (Oryza sativa L.) associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization under different levels of arsenite stress

Transcriptome analysis shows that Glomus versiforme decrease the accumulation and toxicity of cadmium in Ipomoea aquatic Forsk

So far, the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on Cd absorption, transport and detoxification in Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach) are still unclear. In the present study, a pot experiment was performed to investigate the impact of AMF-Glomus versiforme (Gv) on the photosynthetic characteristics, Cd uptake, antioxidative system and transcriptome in water spinach in the soils supplemented with 5 mg Cd kg-1. Gv inoculation improved significantly the photosynthetic characteristics and growth of water spinach. Furthermore, Gv colonization significantly promoted the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione reductase (GR), contents of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AsA), and the total antioxidant capacity (TCA), but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in water spinach. In addition, Gv inoculation significantly increased pH in rhizosphere soils and decreased the Cd concentrations and uptakes in water spinach. Importantly, 2670 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened in water spinach root colonized with Gv in 5 mg Cd kg-1 soil, of which 2008 DEGs were upregulated and 662 DEGs were downregulated. Especially, the expression levels of POD, CAT, GR, dehydroascorbate reductase 2 (DHAR2), glutathione S-transferase U8 (GSTU8) and glutathione synthetase (GSHS) and cytochrome P450 (Cyt P450) genes were significantly up-regulated in water spinach inoculated with Gv. Meanwhile, the plant cadmium resistance protein 2 (PCR2), metal tolerance protein 4 (MTP4), ATP-binding cassette transporter C family member (ABCC), ABC-yeast cadmium factor 1 (ABC-YCF1) and metallothionein (MT) genes were also up-regulated in mycorrhizal water spinach. Our results firstly elucidated the mechanism by which AMF reduced the uptake and phytotoxicity of Cd in water spinach through a transcriptome analysis.

Combined application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and selenium fertilizer increased wheat biomass under cadmium stress and shapes rhizosphere soil microbial communities

BACKGROUND

Selenium (Se) fertilizer and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to modulate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. However, the effects of their co-application on wheat growth and soil microbial communities in Cd-contaminated soil are unclear.

RESULTS

A pot experiment inoculation with two types of AMF and the application of Se fertilizer under Cd stress in wheat showed that inoculation AMF alone or combined with Se fertilizer significantly increased wheat biomass. Se and AMF alone or in combination significantly reduced available Cd concentration in wheat and soil, especially in the Se combined with Ri treatment. High throughput sequencing of soil samples indicated that Se and AMF application had stronger influence on bacterial community compared to fungal community and the bacterial network seemed to have more complex interconnections than the fungal network, and finally shaped the formation of specific microflora to affect Cd availability.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the application of Se and AMF, particularly in combination, could successfully decrease soil Cd availability and relieve the harm of Cd in wheat by modifying rhizosphere soil microbial communities.

Harnessing the power of microbes: Enhancing soybean growth in an acidic soil through AMF inoculation rather than P-fertilization

The low phosphorus (P) availability of acidic soils severely limits leguminous plant growth and productivity. Improving the soil P nutritional status can be achieved by increasing the P-content through P-fertilization or stimulating the mineralization of organic P via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) application; however, their corresponding impacts on plant and soil microbiome still remain to be explored. Here, we examined the effects of AMF-inoculation and P-fertilization on the growth of soybean with different P-efficiencies, as well as the composition of rhizo-microbiome in an acidic soil. The growth of recipient soybean NY-1001, which has a lower P-efficiency, was not significantly enhanced by AMF-inoculation or P-fertilization. However, the plant biomass of higher P-efficiency transgenic soybean PT6 was significantly increased by 46.74%-65.22% through AMF-inoculation. Although there was no discernible difference in plant biomass between PT6 and NY-1001 in the absence of AMF-inoculation and P-fertilization, PT6 had approximately 1.9-2.5 times the plant biomass of NY-1001 after AMF-inoculation. Therefore, the growth advantage of higher P-efficiency soybean was achieved through the assistance of AMF rather than P-fertilization in available P-deficient acidic soil. Most nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria and some functional genes related to N-fixation were abundant in endospheric layer, as were the P-solubilizing Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, and annotated P-metabolism genes. These N-fixing and P-solubilizing bacteria were positive correlated with each other. Lastly, the two most abundant phytopathogenic fungi species accumulated in endospheric layer, they exhibited positive correlations with N-fixing bacteria, but displayed negative interactions with the majority of the other dominant non-pathogenic genera with potential antagonistic activity.

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the reduction of arsenic accumulation in plants: a meta-analysis

Arsenic (As) accumulation in plants is a global concern. Although the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been suggested as a potential solution to decrease As concentration in plants, there is currently a gap in a comprehensive, quantitative assessment of the abiotic and biotic factors influencing As accumulation. A meta-analysis was performed to quantitatively investigate the findings of 76 publications on the impacts of AMF, plant properties, and soil on As accumulation in plants. Results showed a significant dose-dependent As reduction with higher mycorrhizal infection rates, leading to a 19.3% decrease in As concentration. AMF reduced As(V) by 19.4% but increased dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) by 50.8%. AMF significantly decreased grain As concentration by 34.1%. AMF also improved plant P concentration and dry biomass by 33.0% and 62.0%, respectively. The most significant reducing effects of As on AMF properties were seen in single inoculation and experiments with intermediate durations. Additionally, the benefits of AMF were significantly enhanced when soil texture, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH level, Olsen-P, and DTPA-As were sandy soil, 0.8%-1.5%, ≥7.5, ≥9.1 mg/kg, and 30-60 mg/kg, respectively. AMF increased easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) and total glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP) by 23.0% and 28.0%, respectively. Overall, the investigated factors had significant implications in developing AMF-based methods for alleviating the negative effects of As stress on plants.

Nutrient and mycoremediation of a global menace 'arsenic': exploring the prospects of phosphorus and Serendipita indica-based mitigation strategies in rice and other crops

KEY MESSAGE

Serendipita indica induced metabolic reprogramming in colonized plants complements phosphorus-management in improving their tolerance to arsenic stress on multifaceted biological fronts. Restoration of the anthropic damage done to our environment is inextricably linked to devising strategies that are not only economically sound but are self-renewing and ecologically conscious. The dilemma of heavy metal (HM) dietary ingestion, especially arsenic (As), faced by humans and animals alike, necessitates the exploitation of such technologies and the cultivation of healthy and abundant crops. The remarkable symbiotic alliance between plants and 'mycorrhizas' has evolved across eons, benefiting growth/yield aspects as well as imparting abiotic/biotic stress tolerance. The intricate interdependence of Serendipita indica (S. indica) and rice plant reportedly reduce As accumulation, accentuating the interest of microbiologists, agriculturists, and ecotoxicological scientists apropos of the remediation mechanisms of As in the soil-AMF-rice system. Nutrient management, particularly of phosphorus (P), is also praised for mitigating As phytotoxicity by deterring the uptake of As molecules due to the rhizospheric cationic competition. Taking into consideration the reasonable prospects of success in minimizing As acquisition by rice plants, this review focuses on the physiological, metabolic, and transcriptional alterations underlying S. indica symbiosis, recuperation of As stress together with nutritional management of P by gathering case studies and presenting successful paradigms. Weaving together a volume of literature, we assess the chemical forms of As and related transport pathways, discuss As-P-rice interaction and the significance of fungi in As toxicity mitigation, predominantly the role of mycorrhiza, as well as survey of the multifaceted impacts of S. indica on plants. A potential strategy for simultaneous S. indica + P administration in paddy fields is proposed, followed by future research orientation to expand theoretic comprehension and encourage field-based implementation.

The Molecular Mechanism of the Response of Rice to Arsenic Stress and Effective Strategies to Reduce the Accumulation of Arsenic in Grain

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for more than 50% of the world's population. Owing to its growth characteristics, rice has more than 10-fold the ability to enrich the carcinogen arsenic (As) than other crops, which seriously affects world food security. The consumption of rice is one of the primary ways for humans to intake As, and it endangers human health. Effective measures to control As pollution need to be studied and promoted. Currently, there have been many studies on reducing the accumulation of As in rice. They are generally divided into agronomic practices and biotechnological approaches, but simultaneously, the problem of using the same measures to obtain the opposite results may be due to the different species of As or soil environments. There is a lack of systematic discussion on measures to reduce As in rice based on its mechanism of action. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism of the accumulation of As in rice could result in accurate measures to reduce the content of As based on local conditions. Different species of As have different toxicity and metabolic pathways. This review comprehensively summarizes and reviews the molecular mechanisms of toxicity, absorption, transport and redistribution of different species of As in rice in recent years, and the agronomic measures to effectively reduce the accumulation of As in rice and the genetic resources that can be used to breed for rice that only accumulates low levels of As. The goal of this review is to provide theoretical support for the prevention and control of As pollution in rice, facilitate the creation of new types of germplasm aiming to develop without arsenic accumulation or within an acceptable limit to prevent the health consequences associated with heavy metal As as described here.

Synergistic Reduction of Arsenic Uptake and Alleviation of Leaf Arsenic Toxicity in Maize (Zea mays L.) by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Exogenous Iron through Antioxidant Activity

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play key roles in enhancing plant tolerance to heavy metals, and iron (Fe) compounds can reduce the bioavailability of arsenic (As) in soil, thereby alleviating As toxicity. However, there have been limited studies of the synergistic antioxidant mechanisms of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) and Fe compounds in the alleviation of As toxicity on leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) with low and moderate As contamination. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted with different concentrations of As (0, 25, 50 mgꞏkg^-1) and Fe (0, 50 mgꞏkg^-1) and AMF treatments. Results showed that under low and moderate As concentrations (As25 and As50), the co-inoculation of AMF and Fe compound significantly increased the biomass of maize stems and roots, phosphorus (P) concentration, and P-to-As uptake ratio. Moreover, the co-inoculation of AMF and Fe compound addition significantly reduced the As concentration in stem and root, malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaf, and soluble protein and non-protein thiol (NPT) contents in leaf of maize under As25 and As50 treatments. In addition, co-inoculation with AMF and Fe compound addition significantly increased the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the leaves of maize under As25 treatment. Correlation analysis showed that stem biomass and leaf MDA content were very significantly negatively correlated with stem As content, respectively. In conclusion, the results indicated that the co-inoculation of AMF and Fe compound addition can inhibit As uptake and promote P uptake by maize under low and moderate As contamination, thereby mitigating the lipid peroxidation on maize leaves and reducing As toxicity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes under low As contamination. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of AMF and Fe compounds in the restoration of cropland soil contaminated with low and moderate As.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus alleviates arsenic mediated disturbances in tricarboxylic acid cycle and nitrogen metabolism in Triticum aestivum L

Utilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (AMF) as a sustainable strategy in redeeming arsenic (As) toxicity in plants is a promising approach. Low As accumulation, restoration of physiological processes, and As tolerance by AMF have been documented in crop plants. However, to comprehend AM-mediated As tolerance in plants, understanding the biochemical responses of host to the symbiont is crucial. The study evaluated the effect of an AM fungus, Rhizophagus intraradices on tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and nitrogen metabolism of Triticum aestivum under three As concentrations (0, 25, and 50 mg As kg^-1 soil). Results showed that TCA cycle and nitrogen metabolism were severely impaired by As that resulted into a higher C/N ratio. However, colonization by R. intraradices attenuated As mediated alterations in TCA cycle by augmenting the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase that provided sufficient substrate for the TCA cycle. Furthermore, mycorrhizal (M) plants reinstated the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarase, and malate dehydrogenase even under high As level. Although citrate synthase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activities declined upon As exposure in M-plants, these were nevertheless higher than their non-mycorrhizal (NM) counterparts, ensuring higher levels of citric acid and succinic acid in M-plants. AM colonization also moderated the As-mediated disturbances in nitrogen assimilation by augmenting the activity of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthase, and glutamine-2-oxoglutarate amino transferase. Overall findings of the study point out that colonization by R. intraradices favourably regulated the TCA cycle and nitrogen metabolism and confronted As-mediated alterations in C/N ratio.

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on bioaccumulation and bioavailability of As and Cd: A meta-analysis

Increasing industrial activity has led to a growing risk of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) accumulations and biomagnifications in plants and humans. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been extensively studied as a soil amendment owing to their capability to reduce the accumulation of As and Cd in plant tissues. However, a quantitative and data-based consensus has yet to be reached on the effect of AMF on As and Cd bioaccumulation and bioavailability. Here, a meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the impact of AMF using 1430 individual observations from 194 articles. The results showed that AMF inoculation caused a decrease in shoot and root As and Cd accumulation compared to control, and the reduction rates were affected by experimental duration, P fertilizer, AMF species, plant family, plant lifecycle, and soil properties. Intermediate experimental duration (lasting 56-112 days) and no P fertilizer favored AMF to reduce the shoot As and root Cd accumulation. Compared to other plant families, the reduction in As and Cd accumulation in legumes was the greatest, following AMF inoculation. The soils with alkaline, high organic carbon (OC), and low available phosphorus (AP) appeared to be more favorable for AMF to reduce As accumulation in plant tissues, while soils with low AP were more conducive to reducing the Cd accumulation in plant tissues. In addition, AMF inoculation increased pH (1.92%), OC (6.27%), easily-extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) (29.36%), and total glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP) (29.99%), and reduced bioavailable As (0.52%) and Cd (2.35%) in soils compared to control. Overall, the meta-analysis provides valuable guidelines for the optimal use of AMF in different plant-soil systems.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Symbiosis to Enhance Plant–Soil Interaction

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a symbiotic relationship with plants; a symbiotic relationship is one in which both partners benefit from each other. Fungi benefit plants by improving uptake of water and nutrients, especially phosphorous, while plants provide 10–20% of their photosynthates to fungus. AMF tend to make associations with 85% of plant families and play a significant role in the sustainability of an ecosystem. Plants’ growth and productivity are negatively affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses. AMF proved to enhance plants’ tolerance against various stresses, such as drought, salinity, high temperature, and heavy metals. There are some obstacles impeding the beneficial formation of AMF communities, such as heavy tillage practices, high fertilizer rates, unchecked pesticide application, and monocultures. Keeping in view the stress-extenuation potential of AMF, the present review sheds light on their role in reducing erosion, nutrient leaching, and tolerance to abiotic stresses. In addition, recent advances in commercial production of AMF are discussed.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reverse selenium stress in Zea mays seedlings by improving plant and soil characteristics

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial trace element for certain animals including humans, while remaining controversial for plants. High Se concentration in soil is toxic to plants especially at seedling stage of the plants. Although, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important for plant stress resistance; but the mechanisms by which AMF alleviate Se stress in crop seedlings are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the potential strategies of AMF symbiosis to alleviate Se stress in maize (Zea mays) from plants and soil perspectives. Results showed that Se stress (Se application level > 5 mg kg-1) significantly inhibited leaf area, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight of maize (P < 0.05). In contrast, AM symbiosis significantly improved root morphology, increased nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition, promoted shoot growth, inhibited the transport of Se from soil/roots to shoots, and then diluted the concentration of Se in shoots (32.65-52.80%). In general, the response of maize growth to AMF was mainly observed in shoots rather than roots. In addition, AMF inoculation significantly increased the easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein and organic matter contents and decreased the availability of soil Se to the plant. Principal component analysis showed that AMF promoted growth and nutrition uptake of maize was the most dominant effect of Se stress alleviation, followed by the decrease of soil Se availability, limiting Se transport from soil/roots to shoots. Moreover, the expression of Se uptake-related ion transporter genes (ZmPht2, ZmNIP2;1, and ZmSultr1;3) in maize roots were down-regulated upon AM symbiosis which resultantly inhibited the uptake and transport of Se from soil to maize roots. Thus, AMF could impede Se stress in maize seedlings by improving plant and soil characteristics.

Root cell wall chemistry remodelling enhanced arsenic fixation of a cabbage cultivar

The low- and high-arsenic (As) transferring cultivars (LTC and HTC) of cabbage showed significant differences in As uptake and distribution. We hypothesise that chemistry of root cell wall matrix plays a critical role. LTC and HTC were treated with As and grown for 60 days. As concentration and distribution at subcellular and cell wall component (pectin, hemicellulose and lignin) levels were determined. Remodelling enzymes (PME and PAL) and functional groups of cell wall were analysed. Results showed that shoot biomass of LTC was not affected by As. Less As was accumulated in shoot of LTC than HTC. LTC allocated more As in root and majority of As was deposited in cell wall. LTC had more hemicellulose 1 (HC1) and lignin, PME and PAL activities. The uronic acid contents of pectin, HC1 or HC2 were all positively (P < 0.05) correlated with As concentrations in each component, respectively. Chemistry of LTC root cell wall was remodelled in terms of changes in porosity, HC and lignin contents, and functional groups, which potentially exerted coupling effects on As entering and deposition. The LTC can restrain As in roots through changing characteristics of root cell wall matrix.

Phosphate transporters, PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 from Panax notoginseng enhance phosphate and arsenate acquisition

BACKGROUND

Panax notoginseng is a medicinally important Chinese herb with a long history of cultivation and clinical application. The planting area is mainly distributed in Wenshan Prefecture, where the quality and safety of P. notoginseng have been threatened by high concentration of arsenic (As) from the soil. The roles of phosphate (Pi) transporters involved in Pi acquisition and arsenate (AsV) tolerance were still unclear in this species.

RESULTS

In this study, two open reading frames (ORFs) of PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 separated from P. notoginseng were cloned based on RNA-seq, which encoded 527 and 541 amino acids, respectively. The results of relative expression levels showed that both genes responded to the Pi deficiency or As exposure, and were highly upregulated. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae MB192 revealed that PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 performed optimally in complementing the yeast Pi-transport defect, particularly in PnPht1;2. Cells expressing PnPht1;2 had a stronger AsV tolerance than PnPht1;1-expressing cells, and accumulated less As in cells under a high-Pi concentration. Combining with the result of plasma membrane localization, these data confirmed that transporters PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 were putative high-affinity H+/H2PO4- symporters, mediating the uptake of Pi and AsV.

CONCLUSION

PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 encoded functional plasma membrane-localized transporter proteins that mediated a putative high-affinity Pi/H+ symport activity. Expression of PnPht1;1 or PnPht1;2 in mutant strains could enhance the uptake of Pi and AsV, that is probably responsible for the As accumulation in the roots of P. notoginseng.

Do aeration conditions affect arsenic and phosphate accumulation and phosphate transporter expression in rice (Oryza sativa L.)?

Widespread contamination of rice with arsenic (As) has revealed a major exposure pathway to humans. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of oxygen in the rhizosphere on phosphate (P) transporter (for arsenate transportation) expressions, on As and P accumulation and As speciation in four rice genotypes. Oxygenation marginally increased root and shoot length. Total As concentrations in rice roots were dramatically reduced following aeration compared to stagnant treatments (p < 0.001). Aeration treatments significantly increased arsenate while reducing arsenite concentrations in roots (p < 0.001). Root arsenite concentrations were 1.5-2.5 times greater in stagnant than in aeration treatments. Total P concentrations in rice roots were dramatically increased following aeration compared to stagnant treatments. The relative abundance of phosphate transporter (inorganic phosphate transporter and phosphate/H⁺ symporter family protein) expressions showed downregulation in aeration treatments, particularly for SY-9586, XWX-17, and XWX-12 in inorganic phosphate transporter expressions and XWX-17 in phosphate/H⁺ symporter family protein expression (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of phosphate carrier protein expressions were relatively higher than the other phosphate transporters, showing upregulation in aeration treatments.

Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Augments Arsenic Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by Strengthening Antioxidant Defense System and Thiol Metabolism

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) can help plants to tolerate arsenic (As) toxicity. However, plant responses are found to vary with the host plant and the AM fungal species. The present study compares the efficacy of two AM fungi Rhizoglomus intraradices (M1) and Glomus etunicatum (M2) in amelioration of As stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. HD-2967). Mycorrhizal (M) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) wheat plants were subjected to four levels of As (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg As kg-1 soil). Although As additions had variable effects on the percentage of root colonized by the two fungal inoculants, each mycobiont conferred benefits to the host plant. Mycorrhizal plants continued to display better growth than NM plants. Formation of AM helped the host plant to overcome As-induced P deficiency and maintained favorable P:As ratio. Inoculation of AMF had variable effects on the distribution of As in plant tissues. While As translocation factor decreased in low As (25 mg kg-1 soil), it increased under high As (50 and 100 mg As kg-1 soil). Further As translocation to grain was reduced (As grain:shoot ratio) in M plants compared with NM plants. Arsenic-induced oxidative stress (generation of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation) in plants reduced significantly by AMF inoculation. The alleviation potential of AM was more evident with increase in severity of As stress. Colonization of AMF resulted in higher activities of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase). It increased the concentrations of the antioxidant molecules (carotenoids, proline, and α-tocopherol) than their NM counterparts at high As addition level. Comparatively higher activities of enzymes of glutathione-ascorbate cycle in M plants led to higher ascorbate:dehydroascorbate (AsA:DHA) and glutathione:glutathione disulphide (GSH:GSSG) ratios. Inoculation by AMF also augmented the glyoxalase system by increasing the activities of both glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II enzymes. Mycorrhizal colonization increased concentrations of cysteine, glutathione, non-protein thiols, and activity of glutathione-S-transferase that facilitated sequestration of As into non-toxic complexes. The study reveals multifarious role of AMF in alleviation of As toxicity.

Arsenic uptake, accumulation and toxicity in rice plants: Possible remedies for its detoxification: A review

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid. Serious concerns have been raised in literature owing to its potential toxicity towards living beings. The metalloid causes various water- and food-borne diseases. Among food crops, rice contains the highest concentrations of As. Consuming As-contaminated rice results in serious health issues. Arsenic concentration in rice is governed by various factors in the rhizosphere such as availability and concentration of various mineral nutrients (iron, phosphate, sulfur and silicon) in soil solution, soil oxidation/reduction status, inter-conversion between organic and inorganic As compounds. Agronomic and civil engineering methods can be adopted to decrease As accumulation in rice. Agronomic methods such as improving soil porosity/aeration by irrigation management or creating the conditions favorable for As-precipitate formation, and decreasing As uptake and translocation by adding a inorganic nutrients that compete with As are easy and cost effective techniques at field scale. This review focuses on the factors regulating and competing As in soil-plant system and As accumulation in rice grains. Therefore, it is suggested that judicious use of water, management of soil, antagonistic effects of various inorganic plant-nutrients to As should be considered in rice cultivated areas to mitigate the building up of As in human food chain and with minimum negative impact to the environment.

Mycorrhizal colonization status of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the southeastern region of China

The accumulation, distribution, and speciation of contaminants, such as arsenic, in rice can be affected by soil microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). As a potential measure to control contaminant acquisition in rice, the status and performance of AMF in the field need to be investigated. Root samples of rice plants were collected in seven different cities in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Jiangsu Provinces in China in order to investigate the colonization rate of AMF. The total DNA of the roots was extracted, followed by PCR and sequencing, and further confirmed the existence of AMF. The highest colonization rates (19.5 ± 7.2%) were observed in samples from Huizhou City, Guangdong Province. Sequences of ribosomal DNA derived from Pingtan (PT) and Shuikou (SK) in Huizhou shared a similarity of 73 and 86% to Glomus cf. clarum Att894-7 (FM865542) and "uncultured fungus" (EF434122.1), respectively. The moisture tolerance of the AMF from different sources was tested by subjecting to different levels of water content in the soil. Only AMF from PT, SK, and LJ colonized rice under a condition of 100% of the soil water holding capacity (WHC), but not those isolated from upland plants. The AM colonization rate could be governed by the lighting conditions and temperature. AMF isolated in paddy fields has been shown to have more tolerance to moisture than other upland species. Radial oxygen loss (species and stress dependent) could be an essential factor influencing the colonization rate and requires more investigation.

The heavy metal paradox in arbuscular mycorrhizas: from mechanisms to biotechnological applications

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses that involve most plants and Glomeromycota fungi are integral and functional parts of plant roots. In these associations, the fungi not only colonize the root cortex but also maintain an extensive network of hyphae that extend out of the root into the surrounding environment. These external hyphae contribute to plant uptake of low mobility nutrients, such as P, Zn, and Cu. Besides improving plant mineral nutrition, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate heavy metal (HM) toxicity to their host plants. HMs, such as Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn, play essential roles in many biological processes but are toxic when present in excess. This makes their transport and homeostatic control of particular importance to all living organisms. AMF play an important role in modulating plant HM acquisition in a wide range of soil metal concentrations and have been considered to be a key element in the improvement of micronutrient concentrations in crops and in the phytoremediation of polluted soils. In the present review, we provide an overview of the contribution of AMF to plant HM acquisition and performance under deficient and toxic HM conditions, and summarize current knowledge of metal homeostasis mechanisms in arbuscular mycorrhizas.

Arsenic stress affects the expression profile of genes of 14-3-3 proteins in the shoot of mycorrhiza colonized rice

The intimate association between the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plants helps the latter in phosphate acquisition in exchange of carbohydrates and in enhanced stress tolerance. Similarly, the ubiquitous 14-3-3 protein family is known to be a major regulator of plant metabolism and stress responses. However, the involvement of mycorrhiza and plant 14-3-3 proteins interaction in plant response to environmental stimuli, such as arsenic (As) stress, is yet unknown. In this study, we analysed the impact of the As stress on the expression profile of 14-3-3 genes in the shoot of mycorrhiza colonized rice (Oryza sativa) plants. Ten day old rice seedlings were kept for 45 days for mycorrhizal colonisation (10 g inoculum per 120 g soilrite) and were then subjected to 12.5 µM arsenate [As(V)] exposure for 1 and 3 days, in hydroponics. Arsenate stress resulted in significant change in expression of 14-3-3 protein genes in non-colonized and mycorrhiza colonized rice plants which indicated As mediated effects on 14-3-3 proteins as well as interactive impact of mycorrhiza colonization. Indeed, mycorrhiza colonization itself induced up-regulation of all 14-3-3 genes in the absence of As stress. The results thus indicate that 14-3-3 proteins might be involved in As stress signalling and the mycorrhiza induced As stress response of the rice plants.

The effect of silicon on iron plaque formation and arsenic accumulation in rice genotypes with different radial oxygen loss (ROL)

Rice is one of the major pathways of arsenic (As) exposure in human food chain, threatening over half of the global population. Greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to examine the effects of Si application on iron (Fe) plaque formation, As uptake and rice grain As speciation in indica and hybrid rice genotypes with different radial oxygen loss (ROL) ability. The results demonstrated that Si significantly increased root and grain biomass. Indica genotypes with higher ROL induced greater Fe plaque formation, compared to hybrid genotypes and sequestered more As in Fe plaque. Silicon applications significantly increased Fe concentrations in iron plaque of different genotypes, but it decreased As concentrations in the roots, straws and husks by 28-35%, 15-35% and 32-57% respectively. In addition, it significantly reduced DMA accumulation in rice grains but not inorganic As accumulation. Rice of indica genotypes with higher ROL accumulated lower concentrations of inorganic As in grains than hybrid genotypes with lower ROL.

Photosynthesis is induced in rice plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and are grown under arsenate and arsenite stress

The metalloid arsenic (As) increases in agricultural soils because of anthropogenic activities and may have phytotoxic effects depending on the available concentrations. Plant performance can be improved by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) association under challenging conditions, such as those caused by excessive soil As levels. In this study, the influence of AM on CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll a fluorescence, SPAD-chlorophyll contents and plant growth was investigated in rice plants exposed to arsenate (AsV) or arsenite (AsIII) and inoculated or not with Rhizophagus irregularis. Under AsV and AsIII exposure, AM rice plants had greater biomass accumulation and relative chlorophyll content, increased water-use efficiency, higher carbon assimilation rate and higher stomatal conductance and transpiration rates than non-AM rice plants did. Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis revealed significant differences in the response of AM-associated and -non-associated plants to As. Mycorrhization increased the maximum and actual quantum yields of photosystem II and the electron transport rate, maintaining higher values even under As exposure. Apart from the negative effects of AsV and AsIII on the photosynthetic rates and PSII efficiency in rice leaves, taken together, these results indicate that AM is able to sustain higher rice photosynthesis efficiency even under elevated As concentrations, especially when As is present as AsV.