Effect of Endomycorrhizal Fungi on Maize Plants Under Different Levels of Salinity

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of two isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (G3 and G4, Glomus intraradices) on the maize (Zea mays L.) growth, Na and some nutrients uptake in shoots, and roots content of salicylic acid, proline, arginine, phenylalanine and soluble sugar under Na Cl stress. Plants were subjected to four levels of salt stress (0.4, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 dSm-1), one week after germination. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly reduced Na uptake in maize shoots. AMF treatments significantly increased salicylic acid content in roots (G3: 66.7 and 95.6%) and (G4: 17.4 and 50.4%) under 4.0 and 6.0 dSm-1 , respectively, more than the noninoculated ones at the end of the experiment. Proline and soluble sugar contents in roots showed pronounced increases. N and P uptake in AM shoots significantly increased under salt stress, as compared to the non-inoculated plants. Results conclusively indicate that mycorrhizal inoculation increased the salt stress tolerance of maize plants.