| In general, heavy metals interfere with several physiological processes and reduce plant growth. Plants naturally establish symbiotic associations with soil microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi. The aim of this research was to determine if inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi increases tolerance to Cr, evidenced by growth and biochemical parameters and the effect on roots membranes in Capsicum annum. Plants were either non-inoculated or inoculated with Glomus mosseae or Glomus intraradices, and grown in the presence of different concentration of Cr (K2Cr2O4) in soil. Pepper plants grown without Cr behaved as mycotrophic species. At the highest concentration (200 μM K2Cr2O4), Cr reduced root colonization by G. mosseae or G. intraradices (to 23 and 20%... |
