Co-inoculation of Glomus and Pseudomonas enhances the cadmium stress tolerance in maize plants (Zea mays)

Abstract

Cadmium tolerant Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus sp. (AM1) and bacteria Pseudomonas sp. (PS1) were isolated from the soil polluted with high concentration of cadmium in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. These isolates along with two standard cultures G. mosseae (AM s) and P. putida (PS s) in sole and combinations were used for green house experiment in Cd spiked soil at varying levels of Cd (0, 75 and 125 ppm). Observations were recorded in the maize plants on 30 and 60 DAS. The combined inoculation of AM fungi with Pseudomonas sp. was found to be effective in enhancing the growth of the plant and tolerance of incremental levels of Cd compared with sole inoculation and uninoculated control. G. mosseae (AM S) with Pseudomonas sp. (PS 1) inoculated plants registered highest total chlorophyll content (28.9 percent increase over sole inoculation of G. mosseae (AM S)). Total phenol content (3.1 µg of catechol produced/g) and soluble protein content in root (5.79 mg/g) was evidenced higher in Glomus sp. (AM 1) with Pseudomonas sp. (PS 1) inoculated plants at 125 ppm of Cd on 30 DAS.