ABSTRACT
Copper is an essential micronutrient to plants. However, in high concentrations in the soil it can cause toxic effects. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of inoculation with Pisolithus microcarpus on the growth of Eucalyptus saligna seedlings grown in soil contaminated with copper. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial arrangement (4 x 2) four copper doses applied to the soil (zero: natural soil content, 150, 300 and 450 mg kg-1) and with and without fungi inoculation ectomycorrhizal, with five repetitions. The evaluated parameters were plant height, stem diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, main root length, percentage of root colonization and quality indices of seedlings: relationship between plant height and stem diameter and Dickson quality index. The addition of 118 mg kg-1 of copper increased root dry mass of seedlings of Eucalyptus saligna produced in Oxisol with 81% of clay. The inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus provides greater height and dry mass of shoots of seedlings of Eucalyptus saligna in high doses of copper in the soil. This demonstrates the possibility of using the fungus Pisolithus microcarpus in the reforestation with Eucalyptus saligna in areas contaminated with copper.
Keywords:
Copper-contaminated sites; bioremediation; mycorrhizal symbiosis
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