Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (G. etunicatum) fungus on antioxidant enzymes activity under zinc toxicity in lettuce plants

Zinc is one of the eight trace elements which are essential for the normal healthy growth and reproduction of crop plants. Plants possess cellular mechanisms that may be involved in the detoxification of heavy metals and thus confer plants a better tolerance against them. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization is one of these mechanisms. Here, the effect of mycorrhizal fungus G. etunicatum on Zn toxicity tolerance through enhanced activity of some of antioxidant enzymes has been studied. Treatments were applied in triplicates of two factorial analyses: (a) mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal; (b) 5 levels of Zinc (0, 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5 mM). Zinc was added to modified Hoagland's nutrient solution (with half P concentration). Plants were grown in growth chamber for 10 weeks. Toxicity symptoms such as necrosis and chlorosis appeared on the leaves. Activity of detoxifying enzymes Guaiacol peroxidase (GUPX) and Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were measured. GPX activity in roots and shoots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants was increased. Also, APX activity increased in roots and shoots ofmycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Root length colonization (RLC) was measured by gridline intersect method. Mycorrhizal colonization decreased due to Zinc exposure. The results indicate the probable role of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in stress tolerance.