Background:Coexistence of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals deleteriously threatens the quality of environmental health. Few reports uncover the mechanism of inoculation plants with Piriformospora indica for remediating PAH-metal co-contaminated soil by analyzing the chemical speciations of contaminants. This study investigated the influence of inoculation Medicago sativa with Piriformospora indica to remediate phenanthrene (kind of PAHs), and cadmium (one of heavy metals) co-contaminated soil by analyzing the plant growth, physiological parameters and chemical speciation in rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil.
Results:The presence of P. indica significantly increased plants tolerance, Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry and electron transport rate values in phenanthrene and/or cadmium contaminated soil. P. indica inoculation in M. sativa root increased fluorescein diacetate activities in phenanthrene, cadmium and both of that co-contaminated soil, especially in non-rhezospheric soil. The presence of phenanthrene hindered the inoculated plant from accumulating cadmium to some extent; Whereas the presence of cadmium did not hinder the degradation of phenanthrene in both rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil after P. indica colonization. Although the poor bioavailability of cadmium in rhizospheric soil restricted the transportation into stem, P. indica colonization in plant efficiently increased cadmium accumulation in root in cadmium and phenanthrene co-contaminated soil.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the work provides the theoretical basis that Piriformospora indica combined with Medicago sativa contributed to the remediation of PAH-Metal co-contaminated soil.