Promoção do crescimento de amendoim forrageiro em solo contaminado por Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn quando inoculado com o fungo Trichoderma atroviride

Abstract

The diversity of heavy metals used by humans has increased since the industrial revolution, concomitantly with cases of contamination. Although some metals are essential in adequate concentrations, in excess they can hinder the growth and survival of living beings, including fauna, flora, and microbiota. Pollution by Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn can affect soil, water, air, and the food chain, with damage to ecosystem functioning and potentially to public health. One of the ways to decontaminate these metals is phytoremediation, which consists of using tolerant plants to reduce soil pollution. One of the ways to increase the efficiency of phytoremediation is the application of plant growth-promoting microorganisms. In addition, the great plant diversity in Brazil is still little explored in the search for possible bioremediation plants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the phytoremediation of Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn in the soil through the growth of Arachis pintoi under the application of the endophytic fungus Trichoderma atroviride as a plant growth promoter. Three treatments were established: (1) soil not contaminated with A. pintoi growth; (2) soil contaminated with forage peanut growth; and (3) soil contaminated with the growth of A. pintoi and application of T. atroviride. The experiment was set up in vases, in a greenhouse with a completely randomized design with six replications. After plant growth, the development of A. pintoi was analyzed and it was found that the application of T. atroviride circumvented the situation of soil contamination by Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn and promoted plant growth to the point of being similar to plants in uncontaminated soil. However, the dry mass of the roots did not show significant differences between treatments. Thus, there was a promising effect regarding its use to promote the growth of forage peanuts in soils contaminated by heavy metals.