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Colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improves salinity tolerance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying alleviation of salt stress by mycorrhization. Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivars Behta and Piazar with different salinity tolerance were cultivated in soil without salt (EC = 0.63 dSm−1), with low (EC = 5 dSm−1), or high (EC = 10 dSm−1) salinity. Plants inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus intraradices (+AMF) were compared to non-inoculated plants (−AMF). Under salinity, AMF-mediated growth stimulation was higher in more salt tolerant Piazar than in sensitive Behta. Mycorrhization alleviated salt-induced reduction of P, Ca, and K uptake. Ca/Na and K/Na ratios were also better in +AMF. However, growth improvement by AMF was independent from plant P nutrition under high salinity. Mycorrhization improved the net assimilation rates through both elevating stomatal conductance and protecting photochemical processes of PSII against salinity. Higher activity of ROS scavenging enzymes was concomitant with lowering of H2O2, less lipid peroxidation, and higher proline in +AMF. Cultivar differences in growth responses to salinity and mycorrhization could be well explained by differences in ion balance, photochemistry, and gas exchange of leaves. Function of antioxidant defenses seemed responsible for different AMF-responsiveness of cultivars under salinity. In conclusion, AMF may protect plants against salinity by alleviating the salt-induced oxidative stress.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AMF:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

EC:

Electrical conductivity

ETR:

Electron transport rate

MDA:

Malonyldialdehyde

POD:

Peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by Research Council, University of Tabriz, Iran and in part by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (DGCIYT project BFU2007-6032/BFI). The helpful comments of the editor and two anonymous reviewers a gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Science Department, University of Tabriz, 51666, Tabriz, Iran

    Roghieh Hajiboland

  2. Soil Science Department, University of Tabriz, 51666, Tabriz, Iran

    Naser Aliasgharzadeh & Shirin Farsad Laiegh

  3. Lab. Plant Physiology, Bioscience Faculty, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    Charlotte Poschenrieder

Authors
  1. Roghieh Hajiboland
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  2. Naser Aliasgharzadeh
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  3. Shirin Farsad Laiegh
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  4. Charlotte Poschenrieder
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Correspondence to Charlotte Poschenrieder.

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Responsible Editor: Thom W. Kuyper.

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Hajiboland, R., Aliasgharzadeh, N., Laiegh, S.F. et al. Colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improves salinity tolerance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. Plant Soil 331, 313–327 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0255-z

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