Influence of Glomus etunicatum/Zea mays mycorrhiza on atrazine degradation, soil phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities, and soil microbial community structure

The effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus etunicatum) on atrazine dissipation, soil phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities and soil microbial community structure were investigated. A compartmented side-arm (‘cross-pot’) system was used for plant cultivation. Maize was cultivated in the main root compartment and atrazine-contaminated soil was added to the side-arms and between them 650 or 37 μm nylon mesh was inserted which allowed mycorrhizal roots or extraradical mycelium to access atrazine in soil in the side-arms. Mycorrhizal roots and extraradical mycelium increased the degradation of atrazine in soil and modified the soil enzyme activities and total soil phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Atrazine declined more and there was greater stimulation of phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities and total PLFAs in soil in the extraradical mycelium compartment than in the mycorrhizal root compartment when the atrazine addition rate to soil was 5.0 mg kg−1. Mycelium had a more important influence than mycorrhizal roots on atrazine degradation. However, when the atrazine addition rate was 50.0 mg kg−1, atrazine declined more in the mycorrhizal root compartment than in the extraradical mycelium compartment, perhaps due to inhibition of bacterial activity and higher toxicity to AM mycelium by atrazine at higher concentration. Soil PLFA profiles indicated that the AM fungus exerted a pronounced effect on soil microbial community structure.