Response of Ficus nitida plants to Mycorrhizal Fungi, Ascorbic Acid and Fe- EDTA for Decreasing the Harmful Effect of Lead Pollution

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Floriculture Nursery of the Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University during 2005-2007 to investigate the effect of some treatments on Ficus nitida plants grown in polluted soil with Pb. Lead concentrations in soil (0, 500, 1000, 2000 ppm) in 1st stage and (0, 500, 2500, 5000 ppm) in 2nd stage caused changes in growth characters and chemical composition of Ficus nitida plants. Decreases in plant height, root length, branch numbers, leaf numbers and leaf areas, as well as fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, were obtained in the two different stages of growth. Also, lead caused decrement in chl.a, chl.b, total carotenoids, catalase activity and micronutrients concentration, while increment in total sugars, total soluble phenols and free amino acids concentration, as well as peroxidase and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, were recorded in plant leaves under lead treatment compared with control in the two stages. On the other hand, a reverse trend in two stages was recorded by the plants treated with mycorrhiza fungi (500 and 1,000 spores) soil addition, Fe-EDTA (130 and 260 ppm) and ascorbic acid (250 and 500 ppm) foliar application under lead soil pollution. These treatments, can overcome, to some extent, the hazard effect of lead on Ficus nitida plants. Key words: Fe- EDTA / Ficus nitida / Lead / Mycorrhizal fungi / Ascorbic acid. Dr Abdullah Hussein Tahish, Forests and Horticulture Department—Faculty of Agriculture, Sana'a University