• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.6
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• pp.735-742
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to elucidate the tolerance of woody plants to simulated acid rain in relation to mycorrhizal inoculation. Germinating seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia were planted in 1I pots with autoclaved soil mixture of vermiculite, sand and nursery soil at 1:1:1 ratio. Each pot was inoculated with both crushed root nodules from a wild tree of the same species and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum of Glomus intraradices at the time of planting the seedlings. Simulated acid rains at pH 2.6, 3.6, 4.6, and 5.6 were made by mixing sulfuric acid and nitric acid at 3: 1 ratio. Each pot received nutrient solution without N and P, and was also supplied with 180 ml of the one pH level of the acid rains once a week for 50 days. The plants were grown in the green house. At the end of experimental period, plants were harvested to determine contents of chlorophyll, mineral nutrients and net photosynthesis in the tissues, dry weight of the plants, and mycorrhizal infection in the roots. Mycorrhizal infection rate was significantly reduced only at pH 2.6, which meant vitality of G intraradices was inhibited at extremely low pH. Height growth, dry weight production, nodule production and chlorophyll content were increased by mycorrhizal infection in all the pH levels except pH 3.6. Particularly, mycorrhizal inoculation increased root nodule production by 85% in pH 5.6 and 45% in 4.6 treatments. But the stimulatory effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on nodule production was reduced at pH 3.6 and 2.6. Net photosynthesis was increased by mycorrhizal infection in all the pH levels. The phosphorus(P) content in the tissues was increased by 43% in average by mycorrhizal inoculation, which was statistically significant except in pH 2.6. It was concluded that mycorrhizal inoculation of Robinia pseudoacacia would enhance growth and resistance of the plants to acid rain by improving the photosynthesis, phosphorus nutrition, and more nodule production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.885-890
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• 2004

A survey for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) occurrence was undertaken in three endangered vegetation sites in the area of Kudankulam atomic power station. Fifteen VAM fungal species were isolated from the root-zone soils of fourteen different plant species. There was a significant correlation observed between the number of spores and of percentage root colonization as exemplified by Phyllanthus niruri and Paspalum vaginatum (450, 95%; 60, 25%). Although VAM species are not known to be strictly site specific, the fact that Acaulospora elegans was observed only in site 1, Glomus pulvinatum in site 2 only, and Gl. intraradices in site 3 only, showed site-specificity in this study. To confirm the infection efficiency, two host plant species in the sites, P. niruri and Eclipta alba, were selected and inoculated in field with three selected VAM fungal spores. Gl. fasciculatum was found to be the most efficient VAM species in percentage root colonization, number of VAM spores, and dry matter content. When the nutrients in roots of P. niruri and E. alba were analyzed, there was higher uptake of K (4.2 and 3.4 times, respectively) and Ca (5.3 and 4.9 times, respectively), the analogues for $^{137}Cs$ and $^{90}Sr$, respectively. From the results, it might be concluded that VAM association helps the plants survive in a disturbed ecosystem and enhances uptake and cycling of radionuclides from the ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.314-325
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• 2002

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices) on plant growth and N metabolic responses were examined in perennial ryegrass plants exposed to drought-stressed or well-watered condition. Mycorrhizal inoculation improved significantly leaf water potential, dry mass and P content. Drought stress increased significantly nitrate concentration in roots where the increase was much less in AM than non-AM. Drought stress decreased the concentration of soluble proteins in non-AM shoots, whereas non-significant decline occurred in AM shoots even under drought condition. The concentrations of ammonia and proline in drought stressed non-AM plants significantly increased, while mycorrhizal inoculation lowered significantly ammonia and proline accumulation. The decrease in leaf dry weight in drought stressed-plants was significantly correlated to the increase in ammonia (p<0.01) and proline concentration (p<0.01). These results suggested that the increased P content and N assimilation by mycorrhizal inoculation may be associated with drought stress tolerance, showing the moderating effects on shoot growth inhibition and ammonia accumulation in drought stressed-plants.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.232-242
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• 2002

To investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices) colonization on drought-stress tolerance, leaf water potential, chlorophyll concentration, P content and carbohydrate composition were examined in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants exposed to drought-stressed or well-watered conditions. Drought stress significantly decreased leaf water potential, P content and leaf growth. These drought-induced damages were moderated by mycorrhizal colonization. Drought stress decreased the concentration of soluble sugars in shoots. AM plants had a higher foliar soluble sugar than non-AM plants under drought stress condition. Drought stress depressed the accumulation of starch and fructan in shoots, but stimulated in roots. Under drought-stressed condition, starch concentration in roots was higher in non-AM plants than in AM plants. Fructan was the largest pool of carbohydrates, showing the highest initial concentration and the highest net increase for 28 days of treatment. Drought stress slightly decreased fructan concentration in shoots, but remarkably increased in roots. Under drought-stressed condition, fructan concentrations in non-AM and AM shoots at day 28 were 18.7% and 13.3% lower than the corresponding values measured at well-watered plants. However, in the roots, fructan accumulation caused by drought was lessen 13.6% by mycorrhizal colonization. The results obtained suggest that mycorrhizal colonization improves drought tolerance of the host plants by maintaining higher leaf water status and P status, and by retaining more foliar soluble sugars.