The potential ability of fungi in preventing cadmium accumulation in wheat seedlings grown in weakly alkaline soils: Evidence from the application of fungicide

The harmful effects of cadmium (Cd) on crop quality and the limited effective control methods continue to raise concerns regarding safe agricultural production in Cd-polluted weakly alkaline soils. Past studies were less concerned with the role of fungi, popular in the soil -wheat system, in the Cd transfer from soil to wheat. The current research explored the potential role of rhizosphere fungi in the absorption of Cd in wheat seedlings by applying fungicides, including chlorothalonil and benomyl, into Cd-contaminated weakly alkaline soils. Maximum increase in aboveground fresh -weight, leaf chlorophyll content, and maximum decrease in malondialdehyde were recorded with benomyl at the dose of 150 mg Kg -1 for wheat seedling. Besides, the benomyl at the dose of 150 mg Kg -1 significantly decreased the Cd contents in the stem of wheat seedlings. The wheat seedlings treated with benomyl at a dose of 50 mg Kg -1 exhibited the lowest contents of Cd in their stems and leaves. Moreover, these seedlings had significantly higher levels of zinc and lower levels of calcium in their leaves. The application of fungicides has dramatically changed the fungal communities in rhizosphere soils. Compared to the control group, the application of benomyl resulted in an increase in the population of Rhizopus, a plant -beneficial fungi that is tolerant to Cd. Conversely, it led to a decrease in the population of Fusarium, a fungal pathogen that threatens plants, in the rhizosphere soils. It shows that fungicide could be an effective material in controlling Cd uptake by wheat in a weakly alkaline soil.