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Synergistic effect of colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improves growth and drought tolerance of Plukenetia volubilis seedlings

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) inoculation on plant growth and drought tolerance in seedlings of a promising oilseed crop, Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.), under well-watered or drought conditions. AMF inoculation was applied in four treatments: without AMF inoculation, Glomus versiforme, Paraglomus occultum, or combination of both microorganism inoculations. The results showed that AMF colonization significantly enhanced the growth of Sacha Inchi seedlings regardless of soil water conditions, and the greatest development was reached in plants dually inoculated under well-watered conditions. G. versiforme was more efficient than P. occultum. Plants inoculated with both symbionts had significantly greater specific leaf area, leaf area ratio and root volume when compared with the uninoculated control, G. versiforme, and P. occultum treatments alone, indicating a synergistic effect in the two AMF inoculation. Photosynthetic rate and water-use efficiency were stimulated by AMF, but not stomatal conductance. Inoculation with AM fungus increased antioxidant enzymes activities including guaiacol peroxidase and catalase, thus lowering hydrogen peroxide accumulation and oxidative damage, especially under drought stress conditions. However, proline content showed little change during drought stress and AMF colonization conditions, which suggested that proline accumulation might not serve as the main compound for osmotic adjustment of the studied species. These results indicate that AMF inoculation stimulated growth and enhanced drought tolerance of Sacha Inchi seedlings, through alterations in morphological, physiological and biochemical traits. This microbial symbiosis might be an effective cultivation practice in improving the performance and development for Sacha Inchi plants.

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Abbreviations

AMF:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

CAT:

Catalase (μmol H2O2 min−1 mg−1)

Chl:

Leaf chlorophyll content (g m−2)

GPX:

Guaiacol peroxidase (μmol min−1 mg−1)

G s :

Stomatal conductance (mol m−2 s−1)

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide (μmol g−1)

MDA:

Malondialdehyde (nmol g−1)

P max :

Light-saturated photosynthetic rate (μmol m−2 s−1)

RGR:

Relative growth rate (mg g−1 day−1)

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SLA:

Specific leaf area (cm2 g−1)

LAR:

Leaf area ratio (cm2 g−1)

WUE:

Water-use efficiency (μmol mol−1)

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by grants (KSCX2EWQ17, KSCX2EWZ15) from Chinese Academy of Sciences, and by grants (30900220, 31170641) from the National Science Foundation in China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Jinghong, 666100, China

    Yao-hua Tian

  2. Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, China

    Yan-bao Lei & Yu-long Zheng

  3. Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resource Science, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, China

    Zhi-quan Cai

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  1. Yao-hua Tian
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  2. Yan-bao Lei
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  3. Yu-long Zheng
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  4. Zhi-quan Cai
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Correspondence to Zhi-quan Cai.

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Communicated by M. H. Walter.

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Tian, Yh., Lei, Yb., Zheng, Yl. et al. Synergistic effect of colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improves growth and drought tolerance of Plukenetia volubilis seedlings. Acta Physiol Plant 35, 687–696 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1109-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1109-5

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