This work attempts to identify which of two species with different levels of salinity tolerance, Salvia officinalis L. or Asteriscus maritimus L., is more suitable for irrigation with reclaimed wastewater, as well as the effect of the arbuscular mycorrhiza Glomus iranicum on the plant. The experiment was carried out in a growth chamber with a first phase, where both species were irrigated with good quality water, a second phase in which the plants were irrigated with reclaimed wastewater, and a third phase in which the plants were irrigated with good quality water again (recovery). Salinity caused a reduction in leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis in both species. The percentage of mycorrhization was higher in Asteriscus than in Salvia, mitigating the decrease in leaf water potential. There was osmotic adjustment in Salvia, although the proline content increased in both species. The damages produced were clearer in Salvia, in which lipid peroxidation values were higher. Likewise, the visual appearance of the leaves showed symptoms of toxicity in this species, although the mycorrhizae diminished these effects. Irrigation with good quality water induced the recovery of lipid peroxidation in both species, as well as the appearance of new leaves in Salvia.
The Teide broom, Spartocytisus supranubius, is an endemism of the Canary Islands (Spain) and the dominant legume of the Tenerife high-mountain ecosystem in Teide National Park (N.P.). Biotic and abiotic stresses are causing a progressive deterioration and decline of the population of this keystone legume. Since its symbiosis with rhizobia is the main nitrogen (N) input into these soils, diminishing the biological nitrogen fixation could compromise the maintenance of this alpine ecosystem. Symbiotically efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia have been widely and successfully used as inoculants for agronomic purposes. However, only rarely has rhizobial inoculation been used for legume species conservation in natural ecosystems. In this study, we assessed three Bradyrhizobium sp. strains as inoculants for S. supranubius on seedlings grown in a greenhouse experiment and on juvenile individuals (2-years-old) transplanted on a field trial in the N.P. Plant growth as well as symbiotic and plant physiological parameters were measured to evaluate the effect of rhizobia inoculation. Our results show that broom plants responded positively to the inoculation both in the greenhouse and field trials. The SSUT18 inoculated plants had significantly higher number and weight of nodules, greater sizes (biovolume) and biomass and also showed the highest N which, being not significant in our experimental conditions, it still contributed to more N per planted hectare than control plants, which could be important for the ecosystem maintenance in these N-poor soils. Positive effects of inoculation were also detected on the plant survival rate and water content. The bradyrhizobial inoculation, by accelerating the plant growth can shorten the greenhouse period and by producing more robust juvenile plants, they could help them to cope better with stresses in its natural habitat. Therefore, inoculation with selected rhizobia is a successful strategy to be integrated into conservation campaigns for this threatened legume species.
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