Correct option is A
The correct answer is (a).
Comparing pollutant uptake in plants with and without fungal inoculation under identical soil conditions would most effectively assess the synergistic role of mycorrhizal fungi and plants in phytoremediation. This experiment directly tests how mycorrhizal fungi influence the plant's ability to uptake pollutants from the soil. By keeping soil conditions the same for both sets of plants, any difference in pollutant uptake can be attributed to the presence or absence of fungal inoculation.
Incorrect options-
Option (b) Analysing fungal growth rates is important for fungal health assessment but does not directly measure pollutant removal or plant-fungi synergy.
Option (c) Measuring root-to-shoot ratio shows plant growth dynamics but not the efficiency of pollutant uptake.
Option (d) Photosynthetic rates indicate plant health but do not quantify pollutant uptake or fungal synergy in phytoremediation.
