Abstract

As soil contamination with heavy metals is increasing and polyamines have roles in the growth of mycorrhiza and plants, it is important to study phytoremediation, growth, tolerance, and mycorrhization in Lallemantia iberica as a multi-purpose plant, by the application of putrescine along with mycorrhiza in Pb-contaminated soils. For this purpose, the study was performed in a factorial arrangement with Pb (0, 300, 600, and 900 mg Pb/kg soil), mycorrhiza (non-inoculation, Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri)), and putrescine (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) in a greenhouse. Results showed that antioxidant activities, plant Pb, and mycorrhizal features enhanced, while transfer factor (TF), biomass, and tolerance decreased under Pb levels. Mycorrhiza improved growth, greenness, defense, and tolerance and reduced TF, Pb, and H2O2 content under Pb stress. Putrescine (0.5 mM) increased catalase activity, biomass, and colonization and reduced Pb content and TF under Pb levels. Combination of 0.5 mM putrescine with Fm increased shoot biomass (13%), peroxidase (17.2%), root P (7.5%), shoot tolerance (14.4%), colonization (5.1%), and hyphal width (5.5%) and decreased malondialdehyde (20.5%) and shoot Pb content (28.1%). Putrescine (1 mM) had negative effects on all traits in combination with Ri but not with Fm. Combination of putrescine and Fm showed more efficiency in decreasing Pb content in L. iberica and was effective in phytostabilization. It is generally concluded that 0.5 mM putrescine was the beneficial concentration in combination with mycorrhiza, Pb stress, and single use to improve plant performance, and Fm was a useful species for improving the growth and tolerance of L. iberica under Pb levels. Keywords Antioxidant enzymes . Heavy metal . Iberica dragon’s head . Polyamine . Root colonization . Hyphal width