Comparative photochemistry activity and antioxidant responses in male and female Populus cathayana cuttings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under salt

Abstract

We investigated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the morphology and physiology of two genders of the typical dioecious plant Populus cathayana under salt stress. We conducted a pot experiment containing seedlings of the two genders that were subjected to salt or non-salt and filled with soil that was either inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices or not. The results showed that males had higher mycorrhizal dependency than females. Salt stress decreased growth, the relative water content and chlorophyll fluorescence. Meanwhile, salt increased the superoxide radical (O2−), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents and antioxidant enzyme activities. Mycorrhizal male seedlings performed better than females in shoot morphological growth under both conditions and in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, O2− and H2O2 contents, MDA concentration, proline content and antioxidant enzymes activities under salt stress. In females, under saline conditions, a lower MDA concentration and H2O2, O2− and proline contents were observed in the leaves and roots. In addition, inoculated female plants performed better in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters than non-inoculated plants. AMF inoculation had either slight or no effects on the performance of females. These findings suggested that when subjected to stress and AMF, differences in the genders existed, followed by the alleviation of the damage to P. cathayana by AMF via improving growth and photosynthesis and antioxidant systems under salt stress.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance the tolerance of Euonymus maackii Rupr. at a moderate level of salinity

“…A severe reduction in height was observed in E. maackii when salinity stress was imposed at 150 and 200 mM NaCl. Beneficial influences of AMF on growth responses in plants under salt stress have also been found in tomato [30], poplar [15] and maize [31].…”

“…For PCA, highly correlated variables were removed (only one remained) and all remaining data were standardized and computed. Two-dimensional figures were made by using Sigma-Plot version 10.0 [15].…”

“…ions can cause great damage to the structure of enzymes, disrupt photosynthesis and induce nutrient deficiencies [3,5,15]. In this study, we tested the rate of growth in height, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis capacity and nutrient uptake of E. maackii exposed to salt stress and AMF inoculation to explore the potential function of AMF within E. maackii seedlings under abiotic stress.…”

“…Among soil microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plant species [14]. Previous studies have indicated that AMF can confer salt tolerance to host plants by stimulating enzyme activity protection systems, increasing photosynthesis capacity and enhancing nutrients uptake [15][16]. However, not all AMF species function equally well in improving the salt tolerance of host plants.…”

Ecophysiological Responses of Three Tree Species to a High-Altitude Environment in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

“…is a native Chinese species that is distributed mainly in northern, southwestern, and central China, covering a large geographic range [8,9]. The species has strong resistance to stressful environments and is an important genetic resource, particularly for forest shelterbelts and planting to restore degraded land [10]. Ulmus pumila L. is also a native Chinese species, with a long history of cultivation.…”