Abstract:
A greenhouse pot experiment was established to investigate the effects of
Glomus caledonium on maize (
Zea mays) plants under differential levels (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg·kg
-1) of nano-iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe
3O
4) artificially added soils. The results indicate that the high (10.0 mg·kg
-1) application of nano-Fe
3O
4 significantly decreased (
P<0.05) plant biomass of maize, root mycorrhizal colonization rate and plant N, P, Ca, Zn concentration, but significantly increased (
P<0.05) shoot Fe concentration. Compared to the corresponding non-AM fungi-inoculated treatment, inoculating
Glomus caledonium significantly increased (
P<0.05) root Fe concentration and individual Fe acquisition of maize plants, but significantly decreased (
P<0.05) shoot Fe concentration, that eventually significantly increased (
P<0.05) plant biomass of maize with the high nano-Fe
3O
4 applied treatment. These results indicate that AM fungi could alleviate the toxicity of nano-Fe
3O
4 to plants by enhancing Fe partition in roots and reducing the translocation of Fe by maize plants.