Effects of ECMF Isolated from Mining Areas on Water Status, Photosynthesis Capacity, and Lead Ion Transport of Under Pb Stress.

Native ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) are generally more effective than non-native ECMF in facilitating the phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM) ions from contaminated soils. This study aimed to investigate the contributions of four ECMF species-, , , and -that were isolated from mining areas to the growth, water status, photosynthesis, and metallothionein gene expression of exposed to varying concentrations of lead (Pb). The experiment lasted two months and involved . cuttings subjected to Pb concentrations of 0, 200, and 400 mg kg, representing no Pb stress, moderate Pb stress, and severe Pb stress, respectively. Results indicated that . significantly enhanced the growth, water status, photosynthesis parameters, and metallothionein gene expression of . under Pb stress, whereas . only exhibited positive effects under severe Pb stress. . negatively affected the growth, water status, photosynthesis, and metallothionein gene expression of . under Pb stress, while no significant difference was observed between the control treatment and . symbiosis. Therefore, . and . are promising ECMF species for ecological restoration in mining areas, especially in . woodlands.