Elevated atmospheric CO2 combined with Epichloë endophyte may improve growth and Cd phytoremediation potential of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.).

ABSTRACT

Complex environmental conditions like heavy metal contamination and elevated CO2 concentration may cause numerous plant stresses and lead to considerable crop losses worldwide. Cadmium is a non-essential element and potentially highly toxic soil metal pollution, causing oxidative stress in plants and human toxicity. In order to assess a combination of complex factors on the responses of two genotypes of Festuca arundinacea (75B and 75C), a greenhouse experiment was conducted on plants grown in two Cd-contaminated soil conditions and two soil textures under combined effects of elevated ambient CO2 (700 ppm) and Epichloë endophyte infection. Plant biomass, Cd, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn concentrations in the plant shoots and roots, Fv/Fm, chlorophyll (a & b), and carotenoid contents were measured after 7 months of growth in pots. Our results showed that endophyte-infected plants (E+) grown in elevated CO2 atmosphere (CO2+), clay-loam soil texture (H) with no Cd amendment (Cd-) in the genotype 75B had significantly greater shoot and root biomass than non-infected plants (E-) grown in ambient CO2 concentration (CO2-), sandy-loam soil texture (L) with amended Cd (Cd+) in the genotype 75C. Increased CO2 concentration and endophyte infection, especially in the genotype 75B, enabled Festuca for greater phytoremediation of Cd because of higher tolerance to Cd stress and higher biomass accumulation in the plant genotype. However, CO2 enrichment negatively influenced the plant mineral absorption due to the inhibitory effects of high Cd concentration in shoots and roots. It is concluded that Cd phytoremediation can be positively affected by the increased atmospheric CO2 concentration, tolerant plant genotype, heavy soil texture, and Epichloë endophyte. Using Taguchi and AIC design methodologies, it was also predicted that the most critical factors affecting Cd phytoremediation potential were CO2 concentration and plant genotype.