Metal tolerance of plants naturally growing at mine sites is enhanced by functional root endophytes

Abstract

Mine soil contains high concentrations of heavy metals and shows acidity; these environmental factors would generally inhibit plant growth. Recently, several researches have clarified that functional microbes, such as root endophytes, could enhance heavy-metal tolerance in plants naturally growing at mine sites. For example, heavy-metal tolerance in Clethra barbinervis growing at mine site, could be enhanced by root endophytes; without root endophytes, C. barbinervis might not survive at mine soil, showing terrestrial and root growth inhibitions. Aluminium in acidic soil is known to show toxicity to plants and Al tolerance in Miscanthus sinensis might be enhanced by root endophytes, which could detoxify Al in the plant. From the above, native species at mine site, such as C. barbinervis and M. sinensis, seem to develop symbiotic interaction with root endophytes, which could enhance metal tolerance in both plants, and these plants could adapt to severe mine environment, due to microbial support.