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Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis improves growth and root nutrient status of citrus subjected to salt stress

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: The application of microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance salt resistance is quite well-known, but the interaction of mycorrhiza and salinity to growth, relative water content, and nutrient concentrations of salt-sensitive citrus (Citrus tangerine) seedlings has been less studied.The non-colonized seedlings and seedlings colonized by Glomus mosseae or Paraglomus occultum were exposed to salt stress by irrigation with 100 mM NaCl solutions.Salt stress significantly depressed G. mosseae-colonization but not P. occultum-colonization.Mycorrhizal association could markedly increase both plant performance (leaf number, leaf area, shoot, and root dry weights) and leaf relative water content of citrus seedlings exposed to salt stress.Root Na + concentrations were lower in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal seedlings under given salinity conditions.Mycorrhizal inoculation was found to promote root concentrations of K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ at all salinity levels, although the differences for Mg 2+ was not significant at the 100 mM NaCl level.The K + /Na + , Ca 2+ /Na + , and Mg 2+ /Na + ratios were higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal citrus roots subjected to salt stress.It seems that mycorrhizal inoculation possesses the potential to enhance salt tolerance of citrus.

Source: ScienceAsia

DOI: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2009.35.388

Authors: Qiang-Sheng Wu, Ying-Ning Zou

Institution: Yangtze University

Language: English

Topic: Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Yangtze University