RESUMEN

Long-lived radionuclides such as (90)Sr and (137)Cs can be naturally or accidentally deposited in the upper soil layers where they emit ß/γ radiation. Previous studies have shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can accumulate and transfer radionuclides from soil to plant, but there have been no studies on the direct impact of ionizing radiation on AMF. In this study, root organ cultures of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833 were exposed to 15.37, 30.35, and 113.03 Gy gamma radiation from a (137)Cs source. Exposed spores were subsequently inoculated to Plantago lanceolata seedlings in pots, and root colonization and P uptake evaluated. P. lanceolata seedlings inoculated with non-irradiated AMF spores or with spores irradiated with up to 30.35 Gy gamma radiation had similar levels of root colonization. Spores irradiated with 113.03 Gy gamma radiation failed to colonize P. lanceolata roots. P content of plants inoculated with non-irradiated spores or of plants inoculated with spores irradiated with up to 30.35 Gy gamma radiation was higher than in non-mycorrhizal plants or plants inoculated with spores irradiated with 113.03 Gy gamma radiation. These results demonstrate that spores of R. irregularis MUCL 41833 are tolerant to chronic ionizing radiation at high doses.

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RESUMEN

Contamination of soils with radioisotopes of caesium (Cs) is of concern because of their emissions of harmful ß and γ radiation. Radiocaesium enters the food chain through vegetation and the intake of Cs can affect the health of organisms. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic symbioses with plants through colonization of the roots and previous studies on the influence of AM on Cs concentrations in plants have given inconsistent results. These studies did not investigate the influence of Cs on AM fungi and it is therefore not known if Cs has a direct effect on AM colonization. Here, we investigated whether Cs influences AM colonization and if this effect impacts on the influence of Rhizophagus intraradices on Cs accumulation by Medicago truncatula. M. truncatula was grown with or without R. intraradices in pots containing different concentrations of Cs. Here, we present the first evidence that colonization of plants by AM fungi can be negatively affected by increasing Cs concentrations in the soil. Mycorrhizal colonization had little effect on root or shoot Cs concentrations. In conclusion, the colonization by AM fungi is impaired by high Cs concentrations and this direct effect of soil Cs on AM colonization might explain the inconsistent results reported in literature that have shown increased, decreased or unaffected Cs concentrations in AM plants.

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El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar métodos para eliminar hongos nativos formadores de micorrizas arbusculares (HMA) o reducir su número en muestras de suelo, sin afectar sus propiedades edáficas y microbiológicas. Se estudió la aplicación de calor húmedo (autoclave), de calor seco (estufa), de hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO) y de formaldehído, en concentraciones entre 100,0 y 3,3 µl/g y 16,7 y 3,3 µl/g, respectivamente. Las semillas de raigrás (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sembradas en sustratos que recibieron NaClO (100,0-33,3 µl/g) no germinaron y el autoclave incrementó el contenido de fósforo en el sustrato. Estos tratamientos no eliminaron la micorrización por HMA y ambos fueron descartados. En un segundo ensayo se analizaron los tratamientos estufa y formaldehído (10,0 µl/g), asociados o no a la descontaminación de las semillas y a la reinoculación con HMA. Ambos procedimientos redujeron o eliminaron la micorrización por HMA nativos en suelos con 12 a 29 mg/kg de fósforo y permitieron la multiplicación de inóculos de HMA. El tiempo de ventilación de las muestras y los requisitos de seguridad fueron mayores con la aplicación de formaldehído

The objective of this work was to evaluate methods to eliminate or reduce the number of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from soil samples without affecting their edaphic or microbiological properties. At an early trial we evaluated moist heat (autoclaving), dry heat (oven), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and formaldehyde at a range of 100.0-3.3 µl/g and 16.7-3.3 µl/g respectively. There was no germination in plants of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sown on substrates receiving NaClO (100.0-33.3 ul/g), whereas autoclaving significantly increased the available soil phosphorous content. Both treatments failed to eradicate AMF colonization at 9 weeks; therefore, they were discarded. In a second trial, oven and formaldehyde (10.0 µl/g) treatments were analyzed to assess the effects of seed decontamination and AMF reinoculation. Both procedures were effective in reducing or eliminating indigenous AMF at a range of soil P availability of 12-29 mg/kg. However, the time between soil treatment and AMF multiplication and safety requirements were greater in the case of formaldehyde application

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