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Characterization of salt-tolerance mechanisms in mycorrhizal (Claroideoglomus etunicatum) halophytic grass, Puccinellia distans

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Abstract

Responses of Puccinellia distans, a halophytic grass to low (50 mM) and high (200 mM) NaCl salinity, were studied in a sand culture experiment without or with inoculation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Claroideoglomus etunicatum isolated from its saline habitat. Plant biomass was not influenced by salinity levels, while a tendency to a higher biomass was observed in AMF plants under both control and saline conditions. Leaf photosynthesis increased by both salinity and AMF inoculation. Despite higher transpiration rate, AMF plants had higher water-use efficiency under sever saline conditions. AMF inoculation decreased proline concentration, but increased significantly leaf osmotic potential. Antioxidative enzymes responded differently to the salt and AMF treatments depending on the salt concentration and plant organ. Nonetheless, salt-induced malondialdehyde accumulation in the leaves diminished by AMF colonization. K and Ca contents were not affected by salt, while fungal colonization increased K in the roots and Ca in both leaves and roots. Our results indicated that enhancement of photosynthesis and ion homeostasis is involved in the tolerance of P. distans to both low and high salinity. AMF inoculation increased plants’ tolerance by augmentation of the above mechanisms accompanied by improvement of water relations and protection against oxidative damage in the leaves.

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Acknowledgments

The authors greatly appreciate Dr H. Akhani, University of Tehran who suggested using P. distans for our physiological studies.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Excellence for Biodiversity, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, 51666-14779, Tabriz, Iran

    Roghieh Hajiboland

  2. Plant Science Department, University of Tabriz, 51666-14779, Tabriz, Iran

    Fereshteh Dashtebani & Roghieh Hajiboland

  3. Soil Science Department, University of Tabriz, 51666-14779, Tabriz, Iran

    Nasser Aliasgharzad

Authors
  1. Fereshteh Dashtebani
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  2. Roghieh Hajiboland
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  3. Nasser Aliasgharzad
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Correspondence to Roghieh Hajiboland.

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Communicated by M. H. Walter.

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Dashtebani, F., Hajiboland, R. & Aliasgharzad, N. Characterization of salt-tolerance mechanisms in mycorrhizal (Claroideoglomus etunicatum) halophytic grass, Puccinellia distans . Acta Physiol Plant 36, 1713–1726 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1546-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1546-4

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