Responses to copper of two registered poplar clones inoculated or not with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Two registered clones of poplar were grown in soil contaminated or not with copper. Some of the plants were pre-inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Copper effects on plant growth were evaluated, as well as the role of AM fungi in alleviating metal stress. Polyamine content, a class of molecules involved in stress responses, metal content and P content were used to describe plant conditions. The two clones showed several differences in relation to copper pollution and AM symbiosis, confirming the importance of accurate plant selection for phytoremediation purposes. The large accumulation of copper in the roots suggested that poplar is suitable for phytostabilization strategies when this kind of pollution is present.