Research progress of improved resistance of the grass to the heavy metal stress by endophyte

Heavy metal contamination of the land surface and groundwater due to increased industrialization and geochemical activities is a serious environmental problem. Plants can improve phytoremediation by endophyte fungi to enhance the tolerance to heavy metal stress. The present paper summarized the research progress of the improved tolerance of the grasses to the heavy metal stress from the following aspects which included the effects of heavy metals on grasses consist of germination rates, total biomass and root activity, response of physiology and biochemistry of grasses to heavy metal stress and resistance or tolerance mechanisms of the endophyte to improve the resistance to the heavy metal stress comprised antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant materials, heavy metal chelate and phytoremediation. This review put forward a new method for heavy metal tolerance and better phytoremediation breeding by endophyte.