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In this study, the effects of Funelliformis mosseae and Piriformospora indica on wheat growth, enzyme activity and gene expression of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in wheat leaves under different cadmium (Cd) toxicity were investigated. Cd exposure reduced plant dry mass and enzyme activities of CAT and APX, but it increased GST activity. The presence of F. mosseae and P. indica (alone or together) caused an increase in plant dry mass and activities of CAT, APX and GST. In response to Cd exposure, transcriptional level of CAT was decreased but, transcription of APX and GST was up-regulated. Although F. mosseae induced the expression of the antioxidant genes, P. indica was not detected to have such a strong induction in the genes expression. The results obtained from this study suggest that F. mosseae and P. indica can be used to alleviate Cd stress in wheat plants in contaminated soil. Also, no correlation was observed between mRNA and enzyme alterations in some cases, which indicate that post-transcriptional and post-translational regulations may play major roles.

Sites with crude oil pollution have been successfully treated using phytoremediation, but expanding the range of plants that can be used and understanding how exposure impacts the plants are two areas of study that are important to continue. Leucanthemum vulgare has been shown to grow well under a variety of stressful conditions. To examine L. vulgare's ability to both survive crude oil exposure and to reduce crude oil concentrations in soil, plants were placed in soil containing 0, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% or 10% w/w crude oil. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) concentration, peroxidase and catalase activity, proline and phenol content in roots and leaves were determined at the start of planting and every 2 months for six months. L. vulgare roots were successfully colonized with mycorrhizae under all conditions. Results showed positive correlation between antioxidant compound concentration and crude oil contamination. Also, a significant reduction occurred in TPH content of soil over time in planted pots as compared to controls. The lowest TPH content was recorded after 6 months under all treatments. Results showed L. vulgare could survive crude oil exposure and enhance reducing of crude oil from soil.