Aspergillus awamori ameliorates the physicochemical characteristics and mineral profile of mung bean under salt stress

Abstract

Background In the list of abiotic stresses, salt stress is a main growth retarding factor which affects 7% of rain-fed while 30% worldwide irrigated agriculture. However, various strategies are assumed to manage this problem, but the use of endophytes is cheap and eco-friendly. The goal of this study was to evaluate the behavior of endophytic Aspergillus awamori (EWF) in creating salt tolerance in mung bean in terms of its seedling growth, biochemical indices, antioxidant enzymes, endogenous IAA, and ionic status of the plant. Results The results revealed that the 150 mM of NaCl reduced seedling growth (seedlings’ weight and length; leaves number), chlorophyll contents, and IAA. On the other hand, proline, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannin, lipid peroxidation, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase were increased. Inoculation of EWF had promoted the mung bean growth under all tested conditions. EWF enhanced the biomass and IAA contents of the mung bean plants under salt stress. Moreover, EWF-associated mung bean seedlings exhibited low accumulation of stress markers, and Cl, Na, Na/K, and Ca/K ratio, whereas higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, N, and P in mung bean seedlings. Conclusion The results provided a sustainable approach in using endophytic EWF under salt stress, thus concluded that this fungus can be very handy in mung bean as well as other important crop production in saline areas.

The effect of salinity stress on the Phaseolus vulgaris L. plant

“…Whereas total carbohydrate content dropped at 150 and 200 mM NaCl by 262.65 and 224.68 mg/gDW, respectively, which is agreed with Gowayed and Abd El-Moneim (2021) results, who stated that total carbohydrate content has not changed at 150 mM NaCl. Moreover, Ali et al (2021) recorded a reduction in the total carbohydrate in the saline condition, which agrees with our results. As the total carbohydrate is composed of soluble and insoluble carbohydrates, their content would be different under abiotic stresses.…”

Endophytic Fungal Consortia Enhance Basal Drought-Tolerance in Moringa oleifera by Upregulating the Antioxidant Enzyme (APX) through Heat Shock Factors

“…The application of such approaches is of specific interest in the conception of seedling’s response under drought stress and to gain knowledge for the success of reforestation programs based on woody species such as Pinus Halepensis [ 50 ], and M. oleifera. Among these approaches, the use of microbes, especially endophytic fungi are of key importance in different stresses alleviations, such as salinity, heavy metal, and waterlogging stresses by conferring the agronomic and adaptive benefits to the host plants under several abiotic stresses such as tenacious drought, adversative temperatures, soil salinity, waterlogging, and heavy metal toxicity [ 51 , 52 ].…”

Composition and Diversity of the Culturable Endophytic Community of Six Stress-Tolerant Dessert Plants Grown in Stressful Soil in a Hot Dry Desert Region

“…For example, treatment with the endophyte Alternaria alternata promoted growth and increased drought tolerance in wheat plants. Plants inhabited with the endophyte were effectively overcome free radicals induced by stress [ 63 ]; application of the endophyte, Aspergillus awamori improved the performance of mung bean seedlings in terms of antioxidant enzymes, biochemical measures, seedling growth, ionic status and indole acetic acid content of the plant under salt stress [ 64 ]; inoculation of the endophyte, Aspergillus niger enhanced thermal stress tolerance of soybean and sunflower through antioxidant and metabolic pathways [ 65 ]; administration of the endophyte, Bipolaris sp. CSL-1 attenuate the effects of salinity stress on soybean via changing antioxidant status, endo-hormones and expression of stress-related genes [ 66 ]; colonization of a salt-susceptible rice variety by the endophytic fungus, Fusarium sp.…”