Assessment of Mycorrhizal Colonization and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Phragmites australis from the Euphrates River Banks, Iraq

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between endomycorrhizal colonization and heavy metal accumulation in Phragmites australis, as well as to assess the levels of heavy metals in the plant and surrounding soil. Plant and soil samples were collected from the banks of the Euphrates River in Ramadi, Iraq, between March and May 2023. The results revealed that all P. australis root samples exhibited 100% colonization by mycorrhizal fungi. The plant samples contained varying concentrations of heavy metals, including copper (9.5-5.6 mg/kg), zinc (18.8-13.5 mg/kg), lead (1.65–1.43 mg/kg), and cadmium (0.15-0.13 mg/kg). While copper and zinc concentrations were within permissible limits, lead and cadmium levels exceeded safe thresholds. The soil rhizosphere of P. australis was also contaminated with these heavy metals. A direct correlation was observed between mycorrhizal colonization intensity and the accumulation of copper, zinc, and lead in the plant, whereas cadmium exhibited an inverse relationship. These findings suggest a potential role of mycorrhizal fungi in modulating heavy metal uptake in P. australis, with implications for phytoremediation strategies in contaminated environments.