ISSN:
1399-3054
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Mycorrhizal colonization of roots, fresh weight, content of cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine (γEC). glutathione (GSH), thiol groups in Cu-binding peptides (CuBP), and the uptake of Cu were measured in roots and shoots of maize (Zea mays L., cv. Honeycomb F-1) grown in quartz sand, with Cu at 0, 4.5, 9, 15 and 30 μg g−1 added with or without inoculum of the arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus intraradices. In control plants (no Cu added) AMF significantly reduced shoot growth, but did not affect root growth. At an external Cu supply of 9 μg (g quartz sand)−1 or higher, both mycorrhizal colonization and growth of roots and shoots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants were significantly reduced.With up to 9 μg Cu g−1, mycorrhizal colonization increased the content of cysteine, γEC and GSH in the roots. However, the amount of thiols in CuBPs was not increased by mycorrhizal colonization in Cu-treated plants and no differences in Cu uptake were detected between non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants. A CuBP-complex with a relative molecular mass of 7300 and a SH:Cu ratio of 1.77:1 was separated on a Sephadex G-50 column from both non-inoculated and inoculated roots of Cu-treated plants. HPLC chromatography of the CuBPs of both non-inoculated and inoculated roots resulted in a similar peak pattern, indicating that no additional CuBPs were formed by the fungus. In conclusion, our results do not support the idea that AMF protects maize from Cu-toxicity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1995.tb05308.x
