Abstract: Vanadium (V) and phosphorus (P) are similar in chemical structure. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have high affinity for P. To investigate the effects of AMF inoculation and P application on maize growth under V stress, we investigated the effects of AMF inoculation and P application (0, 20 and 50 mg·kg^-1 P₂O₅) on maize growth, P and V uptake, and V speciation in the soil amended with four levels of V addition (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg·kg^-1 V). The results showed that V stress (100, 200 and 400 mg·kg^-1) significantly decreased root mycorrhizal colonization and plant biomass. The 200 and 400 mg·kg^-1 V stress treatments significantly decreased root mycorrhizal colonization by 14.9%-28.0% and 29.5%-31.9%, and reduced plant biomass by 41.4%-42.2% and 54.3%-55.3%, respectively. V stress significantly decreased P concentration and uptake of maize shoot and increased V concentration and uptake of maize shoot and root. AMF inoculation and P application could alleviate the inhibition effect of V on maize growth, which significantly decreased bioconcentration factor of V by 23.3%-47.7% and translocation factor of V by 13.1%-27.9%, as well as V concentration and uptake of maize shoot, but improved plant biomass and P uptake of maize shoot and root. The factor of AMF inoculation and P application had interaction on root mycorrhizal colonization and plant biomass, as well as P and V uptake of maize shoot. AMF inoculation promoted the reduction of V_V into V_IV in plant tissues. AMF inoculation could alleviate V stress by promoting maize growth and P uptake and inhibiting V translocation, with synergistic effects from P application.

Key words: vanadium, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, phosphorus uptake, mycorrhizal colonization rate, translocation