The European project MYRRH: Use of mycorrhizal fungi for the phytostabilisation of radio-contaminated environments

¹ Université Catholique de Louvain, Mycothèque de l'Université Catholique de Louvain (MUCL), Unité de Microbiologie, 3 place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
² Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de Pédologie Biologique, 17 rue Notre-Dame des Pauvres, BP. 5, 54501 Vandœuvre-les-Nancy, France
³ Riso National Laboratory, Plant Biology and Biogeochemistry Department, 399 Frederiksborgvej, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
⁴ CEN-SCK, Radiation Protection Research Department, 200 Boeretang, 2400 Mol, Belgium
⁵ Université Catholique de Louvain, Unité des Sciences du Sol, 2/10 place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Abstract

Micro-organisms have a significant influence on the fate of radionuclides (RN) in terrestrial ecosystems, with a wealth of physico-chemical and biological mechanisms impacting mobility and speciation [1]. Among these soil micro-organisms, mycorrhizal fungi are active components of the rhizosphere. They inhabit roots and develop in the surrounding environment, therefore they are located at the interface between roots and soil. Since the Chernobyl accident an increased attention was given to these symbiotic organisms which were assumed to influence RN acquisition and hence RN bio-cycling. However, the precise role of AMF in RN mobilization and transfer and the mechanisms involved are still a matter of speculation. Most results were obtained with radiocesium. The present contribution intends to summarize what we know on the roles of these symbiotic fungi on radiocesium uptake/accumulation and on the potential mechanisms involved, by reference to selected studies.