保水剂和丛枝菌根真菌异形根孢囊霉对紫花苜蓿生长与抗旱性的影响

为探讨保水剂（super absorbent polymers,SAP）和丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）对植物生长和抗旱性的影响,以紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa为供试植物,开展了温室盆栽试验。植物播种时设置土壤添加和不添加聚丙烯酰胺型SAP（BJ2101）处理,以及接种和不接种异形根孢囊霉Rhizophagus irregularis处理,通过称重法维持12%的土壤含水量（正常供水）,植物生长30d,各处理一半植物接受干旱胁迫（6%的土壤含水量）,另一半仍正常供水,持续30d后收获。结果表明,在干旱胁迫下,接种AMF显著增加了紫花苜蓿的植株干重,促进了植物对矿质元素的吸收,提高了叶片中叶绿素和脯氨酸含量,增强了植物的抗旱性。SAP抑制了R. irregularis对植物根系的侵染;与单接种AMF相比,SAP和AMF的联合施用降低了紫花苜蓿的生物量,影响了植物对矿质元素的吸收。本研究中,SAP和AMF的联合施用并没有表现出协同增效作用,这一方面可能是因为研究设定的土壤水分管理模式,另一方面SAP与AMF共同施用的适宜条件还需进一步探索优化。     

丛枝菌根真菌对杨树生长、气孔和木质部微观结构的影响

植物气孔与木质部导管及纤维的功能直接关系着植物的水分利用, 进而影响植物的生长。为研究丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对杨树抗旱性的影响, 采用温室盆栽的方法, 研究两种水分条件下, 接种根内球囊霉(Rhizophagus irregularis)对速生杨107 Populus × canadensis (P. nigra × P. deltoides) ‘Neva’气孔及木质部微观结构的影响。结果表明: AMF的侵染显著提高了杨树幼苗地上和地下部分生物量, 对叶片气孔长度、茎部导管细胞直径和纤维细胞长度也有促进作用。AMF对生物量和导管细胞直径的增加幅度表现出干旱条件下>正常水分条件下, 而对气孔长度的提高幅度表现出干旱条件下<正常水分条件下。正常水分条件下, AMF增加了杨树叶片的气孔密度, 减小了纤维细胞直径, 对相对水分饱和亏缺无影响; 干旱条件下, AMF增加了纤维细胞直径, 降低了相对水分饱和亏缺, 对气孔密度无影响。综上所述, 干旱条件下, AMF对导管水分传输能力的促进作用明显增加, 而对气孔蒸腾能力的促进作用有所减少, 从而更利于杨树在遭遇干旱时保持水分, 减少干旱对菌根杨树造成的水分亏缺, 提高菌根杨树对干旱的耐受性。     

干旱胁迫下接种丛枝菌根真菌对七子花非结构性碳水化合物积累及C、N、P化学计量特征的影响

以濒危植物七子花二年生幼苗为研究材料,采用盆栽试验方法,研究干旱胁迫和接种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)处理对幼苗不同器官C、N、P化学计量关系和非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量的影响。试验共设计4个处理:对照(CK)、干旱胁迫(D)、接种AMF(AMF)、干旱胁迫和接种AMF(D+AMF)。结果表明: 在干旱胁迫下七子花根系AMF的侵染率显著下降,但接种AMF处理植株的株高、叶片数显著高于未接种处理。接种AMF显著提高了干旱胁迫下植株根、叶可溶性糖和NSC含量及茎、叶淀粉含量,且茎和叶可溶性糖与淀粉比显著下降。干旱胁迫导致植株C含量在根和叶中显著增加,P含量在茎中显著减少;与干旱胁迫相比,胁迫下接种AMF植株根、茎、叶P含量及叶C含量显著提高,而根C、N含量及茎C含量显著降低。胁迫下接种AMF植株根、茎C∶N、C∶P、N∶P和叶N∶P均显著低于单一胁迫处理。NSC与C∶N∶P计量比的相关性分析表明,根、叶P含量与可溶性糖和NSC含量呈显著正相关,茎P含量与淀粉和NSC含量呈显著正相关,各器官N∶P与NSC含量呈显著负相关。综上,干旱胁迫显著抑制了七子花幼苗的生长,接种AMF通过提高植株根和叶的可溶性糖含量、根的可溶性糖/淀粉,增加地上部分淀粉含量,促进P元素吸收和降低各器官N∶P来增强植株耐旱性,从而提高七子花幼苗在干旱环境中的存活率。     

Effects of dew on eco-physiological traits and leaf structures of Leymus chinensis and Agropyron cristatum grown under drought stress

Aims To investigate the effects of dew on plants, we conducted the experiment to determine the physiological characteristics and leaf structures of Leymus chinensis and Agropyron cristatum in response to increasing dew under drought stress.Methods Four treatments (no dew, three times dew and five times dew per week under drought stress, and well-watering) were designed to examine leaf relative water content, water potential, net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, biomass, and leaf structures of L. chinensis and A. cristatum. Important findings There was a significant increase in the relative water content and water potential by simulated dew increase for two plants species under drought stress (p < 0.05). For A. cristatum, simulated dew increase significantly enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of plants under drought stress (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate for L. chinensis among treatments. Simulated dew increase improved the aboveground biomass and root biomass of two species. The ratio of yellow leaves to the total leaves was decreased by simulated dew increase for two species. Dew increase also protected leaf structures against the drought stress, suggesting that the dew increase can slow down the death process of leaves resulted from drought stress. Therefore, the study demonstrated that dew increased the available water for the leaves of L. chinensis and A. cristatum grown in the drought stress and thus had positive effects on the photosynthesis, water physiology and plant development.     

入侵植物与本地植物互作对丛枝菌根真菌AMF侵染率的影响

外来植物成功入侵与菌根共生体存在着密不可分的关系,丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）侵染率是反映其侵染植物情况的重要指标,影响侵染率的因素很多,但是入侵植物与本地植物互作对AMF侵染率的影响目前还不清楚。因此,本研究以外来入侵植物黄顶菊Flaveria bidentis、豚草Ambrosia artemisiifolia、三叶鬼针草Bidens pilosa和本地植物狗尾草Setaria viridis、黄香草木犀Melilotus officinalis、藜Chenopodium album为研究对象,设置入侵植物单种处理、本地植物单种处理、每种入侵植物分别与本地植物两两混种处理以及每种入侵植物同时与所有本地植物混种处理,观察测定不同处理下入侵植物与本地植物根系丛枝、泡囊、菌丝及总侵染率,比较研究本地植物种类变化对入侵植物和本地植物根系AMF侵染率的影响,以及3种入侵菊科植物对本地植物AMF侵染率的影响规律是否一致。结果表明,与入侵植物单种相比,除豚草与藜、豚草同时与3种本地植物混种两个处理中,豚草根系的AMF菌丝及总侵染率显著增加外,其余所有处理中入侵植物总侵染率均无显著差异;与狗尾草或黄香草木犀单种相比,每种入侵植物同时与所有本地植物混种处理中,本地植物狗尾草和黄香草木犀根系上的AMF菌丝及总侵染率均显著降低,即随本地植物种类数目的增加,对本地植物根系的菌丝及总侵染率存在显著抑制作用,而对入侵植物无显著影响。     

丛枝菌根真菌对不同性别组合模式下青杨雌雄植株根系生长的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对雌雄异株植物根系生长, 尤其是对邻近生长的不同雌雄个体的影响还鲜有研究。该研究以泥土:河沙:蛭石体积比为1:1:1的混合物为培养基质, 分别在雄-雄、雌-雌和雄-雌3种组合栽培模式下对青杨(Populus cathayana)雌雄幼苗进行接种和不接种摩西球囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae)处理, 通过比较接种AMF与否雌雄植株根系在侵染率、生物量、形态、碳、氮含量等方面的差异来分析AMF对青杨雌雄幼苗根系生长发育的影响。结果发现: 与对照组相比, 接种AMF对3种栽培模式下青杨雌雄植株的侵染率、根干质量、根系形态(除分枝强度、比表面积)和碳、氮含量影响显著。此外, 不同性别组合模式对青杨雌雄植株的根干质量、根系形态和碳、氮含量影响显著。接种AMF后, 与雌-雌合栽模式下的雌株相比, 雄-雌合栽模式下雌株的根干质量、氮含量都有不同程度的提高, 根系形态发生改变; 而与雄-雄合栽模式下的雄株相比, 雄-雌合栽模式下雄株的相应指标出现降低或轻微增加。该研究表明AMF对不同性别组合模式下青杨植株根系生长具有显著促进作用, 尤其是雄-雌合栽模式下AMF接种最有利于雌株根系的生长发育。     

丛枝菌根真菌与植物共生对植物水分关系的影响及机理

自1885年Frank首次提到菌根(mykorhiza)概念以来,大量的试验证实了丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)与植物根系之间形成具有一定结构和功能的共生体,促进植物生长并提高干旱耐受能力,在干旱生态系统中发挥重要的作用。该研究多集中在对宿主植物生理生态的影响及其机制方面,然而菌根共生对宿主植物水分吸收和信号产生、传递的影响研究少而分散,缺少系统总结。综述了最近四十多年丛枝菌根真菌与植物共生体对宿主植物干旱适应性影响研究进展,讨论了菌根共生对植物根冠通讯的影响及机理。干旱胁迫下AMF与植物共生,通过影响宿主植物一系列生理生态过程,提高宿主植物横向根压和纵向蒸腾拉力。经典的Ohm吸水模型是该方向最有代表性的研究成果,该模型揭示了菌根共生的根外菌丝具有不同于根细胞的细胞结构和水分运输性能,这为宿主植物提供一种特殊的快速吸水方式,可提高植物对土壤水分的吸收和运输能力。研究表明,AMF会影响宿主植物根冠通讯过程,如诱发信号级联反应,诱导根系尽早感知水分胁迫并产生非水力根源信号,提高宿主对干旱的耐受性。讨论了AMF在根冠通讯分子机制研究方面存在的问题及可能的解决途径,展望了AMF在干旱农业生产中的应用潜力。     

钼在桃树干旱胁迫响应中的作用解析

以毛桃(Amygdalus persica)实生苗为试材, 研究干旱胁迫下, 钼酸铵处理对钼辅因子硫化酶编码基因(LOS5/ABA3)表达量、脱落酸(ABA)含量及抗旱相关生理指标的影响。结果表明, 干旱胁迫下, 喷施不同浓度钼酸铵处理毛桃实生苗叶片, 其含水量及叶绿素和脯氨酸含量显著高于对照, 且以0.04%钼酸铵处理效果最好; 电解质渗漏率显著低于对照。干旱胁迫下, 与对照相比, 喷施0.04%钼酸铵的毛桃实生苗叶片中LOS5/ABA3表达量显著提高; ABA含量、水分利用效率和净光合速率均高于对照, 蒸腾速率低于对照, 且差异显著; 叶片抗氧化酶活性显著升高, MDA含量显著降低; 离体处理的叶片质量损失减缓, 且差异显著。研究表明毛桃实生苗在干旱胁迫下喷施钼酸铵可通过上调钼辅因子硫化酶编码基因的表达水平, 提高叶片中ABA和脯氨酸含量及抗氧化酶活性, 从而缓解干旱胁迫下的细胞膜氧化伤害, 降低叶片失水速率, 减轻干旱胁迫对毛桃实生苗的伤害。     

大刍草稀有等位基因促进玉米密植高产

密植是提高作物单位面积产量、促进粮食增产的重要途径之一。叶夹角是影响玉米(Zea mays)密植的关键因子。中国农业大学田丰课题组最近克隆了2个调控玉米叶夹角的数量性状位点(QTL)——UPA1和UPA2, 揭示了这2个位点的功能基因(brd1和ZmRAVL1)通过油菜素内酯(BR)信号通路调控叶夹角。UPA2位于ZmRAVL1上游9.5 kb, 可与DRL1蛋白结合。另一个影响玉米叶夹角的蛋白LG1可以激活ZmRAVL1的表达; DRL1蛋白与LG1蛋白直接互作抑制LG1对ZmRAVL1的激活表达。玉米祖先种大刍草(teosinte)的UPA2位点序列与DRL1蛋白结合能力更强, 导致大刍草ZmRAVL1的表达受到更强的抑制, 下调表达的ZmRAVL1进一步使下游基因brd1的表达下调, 进而降低叶环区的内源BR水平, 导致叶夹角变小。将大刍草的UPA2等位基因导入到玉米中或对玉米中ZmRAVL1进行基因编辑, 在密植条件下均可显著提高玉米产量。上述发现为高产玉米品种的分子育种改良提供了重要理论基础和基因资源。     

Interactive effects of ozone and drought stress on plants: A review

Ground-level ozone (O₃) and drought are two key factors limiting plant growth. O₃ can enter into the plant tissue through the stomata, then causing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which inspires programmed cell death. Drought usually induces the accumulation of ROS due to damage to antioxidant systems of plants. The effects of two kinds of stress on plants are similar due to the accumulation of ROS, resulting in reduced photosynthesis rate and physiological metabolism, eventually decreased plant growth and biomass. Nevertheless, O₃ and drought interacts synergistically to accumulate detrimental effects or antagonistically to reduce harmful effects. Actually, it is complex interactive process between O₃ and drought. On the one hand, O₃ triggers stomatal sluggishness or even dysfunction, which exacerbates water transpiration of leaves, water loss from plants and further O₃ phytotoxicity. On the other hand, drought induces stomatal closure, and thus protecting plants against the O₃ influx and evaporation of water. However, prolonged drought could limit the uptake of CO₂ and thus result in reduced plant growth. The response of plants to both O₃ and drought not only depends on the occurring sequence and duration of any factor but also rely on the difference in physiological metabolism of the plant itself. The interactive effects of O₃ and drought on stomatal characteristics, photosynthetic carbon mechanism, antioxidant response and growth development are reviewed in this paper and the aspects to be further studied are also suggested.     

Biochar and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediated enhanced drought tolerance in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plant growth,root morphological traits and physiological properties

Drought is a major abiotic factor limiting plant growth and crop production. There is limited information on effect of interaction between biochar and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on okra growth, root morphological traits and soil enzyme activities under drought stress. We studied the influence of biochar and AMF on the growth of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in pot experiments in a net house under drought condition. The results showed that the biochar treatment significantly increased plant growth (the plant height by 14.2%, root dry weight by 30.0%) and root morphological traits (projected area by 22.3% and root diameter by 22.7%) under drought stress. In drought stress, biochar treatment significantly enhanced the chlorophyll ‘a’ content by 32.7%, the AMF spore number by 22.8% and the microbial biomass as compared to the control. Plant growth parameters such as plant height, shoot and root dry weights significantly increased by AMF alone, by 16.6%, 21.0% and 40.0% respectively under drought condition. Other plant biometrics viz: the total root length, the root volume, the projected area and root diameter improved significantly with the application of AMF alone by 38.3%, 60.0%,16.8% and 15.9% respectively as compared with control. Compared to the control, AMF treatment alone significantly enhanced the total chlorophyll content by 36.6%, the AMF spore number by 39.0% and the microbial biomass by 29.0% under drought condition. However, the highest values of plant growth parameters (plant height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight) and root morphological traits (the total root length, root volume, projected area, root surface area) were observed in the combined treatment of biochar and AMF treatment viz: 31.9%, 34.2%, 60.0% and 68.6%, 66.6%, 45.5%, 41.8%, respectively compared to the control under drought stress. The nitrogen content, total chlorophyll content and microbial biomass increased over un-inoculated control. The soil enzymes; alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activities significantly increased in the combined treatment by 55.8%, 68.7% and 69.5%, respectively as compared to the control under drought stress. We conclude that biochar and AMF together is potentially beneficial for cultivation of okra in drought stress conditions.     

迷迭香对干旱胁迫的生理响应及其诱导挥发性有机化合物的释放

为探讨干旱胁迫对迷迭香(Rosmarinus officinalis)生理生化特性及挥发性有机化合物(VOC)释放规律的影响, 该文采用盆栽称重控水法研究了轻度(LD)、中度(MD)和重度(SD)干旱胁迫对迷迭香二年生实生苗叶片细胞膜透性、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和丙二醛(MDA)含量以及脂氧合酶和抗氧化保护酶活性的影响, 并采用热脱附/气相色谱/质谱联用技术对不同干旱胁迫下迷迭香释放的挥发性有机化合物成分进行了分析。结果表明: 干旱胁迫对迷迭香叶片可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量有明显的影响, MD和SD处理12天时其含量极显著地增加(p < 0.01), 与对照相比可溶性糖分别增加了51.5%和87.4%, 可溶性蛋白质含量分别增加了0.82和1.40倍。在MD和SD胁迫下, 超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶对干旱胁迫的响应存在一定差异, 表现为相互协调的作用。随着干旱胁迫时间的延长, 迷迭香体内MDA含量极显著地增加(p < 0.01), 细胞膜损伤率显著增加。分析显示, 迷迭香释放的VOC主要是萜烯类化合物, 占总量的46.0%以上; 随着干旱胁迫增强, 迷迭香释放的VOCs总量减少, 种类增多; LD、MD和SD胁迫处理萜烯类化合物相对含量与对照相比分别增加了14.4%、17.0%和23.7%; 干旱胁迫还明显诱导绿叶挥发物(green leaf volatiles)和醛类化合物的释放, 诱导产生了2-己烯醛、叶醇、山梨醛和癸醛4种新组分。研究表明: 干旱胁迫条件下, 迷迭香能够通过调节保护酶活性、渗透调节物质含量和释放VOCs来提高抗旱性。     

固氮菌缓解氮限制环境中丛枝菌根真菌对加拿大一枝黄花的营养竞争

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)能与大多数陆生植物的根系形成共生体, 有助于宿主植物吸收养分。但营养胁迫下, 根系微生物对AMF与宿主植物间关系的影响少见报道。该研究假设: 在营养极度匮乏(如氮胁迫)环境下, AMF与宿主植物可能产生营养竞争, 而固氮菌的介入能够缓解两者对营养的竞争关系。为了验证这一假设, 该文探究了加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)生长受限的氮浓度, 并在氮受限条件下检验了AMF、加拿大一枝黄花及固氮菌三者间的关系。结果表明: 低氮处理明显抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的地上生物量和总生物量, 尤其以0.025 mmol·L^-1 N的氨态氮对加拿大一枝黄花的负影响更甚。在此氮浓度下, 单独添加AMF总体上都进一步抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的生长, 而固氮菌的添加在一定程度上提高了氮受限条件下AMF对宿主的根部侵染率及宿主植物生物量。这表明固氮菌能够缓和氮受限条件下AMF和加拿大一枝黄花间的营养竞争关系。研究结果加深了对外来植物在极度营养胁迫环境下与多种微生物互作的入侵机制的理解。     

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria alleviates competition between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Solidago canadensis for nutrients under nitrogen limitation

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)能与大多数陆生植物的根系形成共生体, 有助于宿主植物吸收养分。但营养胁迫下, 根系微生物对AMF与宿主植物间关系的影响少见报道。该研究假设: 在营养极度匮乏(如氮胁迫)环境下, AMF与宿主植物可能产生营养竞争, 而固氮菌的介入能够缓解两者对营养的竞争关系。为了验证这一假设, 该文探究了加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)生长受限的氮浓度, 并在氮受限条件下检验了AMF、加拿大一枝黄花及固氮菌三者间的关系。结果表明: 低氮处理明显抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的地上生物量和总生物量, 尤其以0.025 mmol·L^-1 N的氨态氮对加拿大一枝黄花的负影响更甚。在此氮浓度下, 单独添加AMF总体上都进一步抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的生长, 而固氮菌的添加在一定程度上提高了氮受限条件下AMF对宿主的根部侵染率及宿主植物生物量。这表明固氮菌能够缓和氮受限条件下AMF和加拿大一枝黄花间的营养竞争关系。研究结果加深了对外来植物在极度营养胁迫环境下与多种微生物互作的入侵机制的理解。     

丛枝菌根对植物根际逆境的生态学意义

近年来,我国在菌根分子生物学、菌根营养学、菌根分类学和菌根生态学等方面取得了令人瞩目的研究成果,其中对丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的研究居多。AMF能与大部分陆地植物根系形成共生关系,促进植物生长发育,提高植物抗逆性,在保持生态平衡、保护生态环境等方面发挥重要作用。本文主要从非生物胁迫(干旱胁迫、重金属污染、盐碱胁迫)和生物胁迫(致病菌和线虫侵染)方面介绍了AMF在植物根际逆境中发挥的生态功能及作用机制,提出了该研究领域尚存的不足之处和研究前景,为AMF后续研究提供参考。     

Aquaporin genes GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2 from Glomus intraradices contribute to plant drought tolerance

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, established between AM fungi (AMF) and roots of higher plants, occurs in most terrestrial ecosystems. It has been well demonstrated that AM symbiosis can improve plant performance under various environmental stresses, including drought stress. However, the molecular basis for the direct involvement of AMF in plant drought tolerance has not yet been established. Most recently, we cloned two functional aquaporin genes, GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2, from AM fungus Glomus intraradices. By heterologous gene expression in yeast, aquaporin localization, activities and water permeability were examined. Gene expressions during symbiosis in expose to drought stress were also analyzed. Our data strongly supported potential water transport via AMF to host plants. As a complement, here we adopted the monoxenic culture system for AMF, in which carrot roots transformed by Ri-T DNA were cultured with Glomus intraradices in two-compartment Petri dishes, to verify the aquaporin gene functions in assisting AMF survival under polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. Our results showed that 25% PEG significantly upregulated the expression of two aquaporin genes, which was in line with the gene functions examined in yeast. We therefore concluded that the aquaporins function similarly in AMF as in yeast subjected to osmotic stress. The study provided further evidence to the direct involvement of AMF in improving plant water relations under drought stresses.     

Common mycorrhizal networks provide a potential pathway for the transfer of hydraulically lifted water between plants

Plant roots may be linked by shared or common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that constitute pathways for the transfer of resources among plants. The potential for water transfer by such networks was examined by manipulating CMNs independently of plant roots in order to isolate the role(s) of ectomycorrhizal (EM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) networks in the plant water balance during drought (soil water potential -5.9 MPa). Fluorescent tracer dyes and deuterium-enriched water were used to follow the pathways of water transfer from coastal live oak seedlings (Quercus agrifolia Nee; colonized by EM and AMF) conducting hydraulic lift (HL) into the roots of water-stressed seedlings connected only by EM (Q. agrifolia) or AMF networks (Q. agrifolia, Eriogonum fasciculatum Benth., Salvia mellifera Greene, Keckiella antirrhinoides Benth). When connected to donor plants by hyphal linkages, deuterium was detected in the transpiration flux of receiver oak plants, and dye-labelled extraradical hyphae, rhizomorphs, mantles, and Hartig nets were observed in receiver EM oak roots, and in AMF hyphae of Salvia. Hyphal labelling was scarce in Eriogonum and Keckiella since these species are less dependent on AMF. The observed patterns of dye distribution also indicated that only a small percentage of mycorrhizal roots and extraradical hyphae were involved with water transfer among plants. Our results suggest that the movement of water by CMNs is potentially important to plant survival during drought, and that the functional ecophysiological traits of individual mycorrhizal fungi may be a component of this mechanism.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviates drought stress imposed on Knautia arvensis plants in serpentine soil

Background and Aims

Plants growing on serpentine bedrock have to cope with the unique soil chemistry and often also low water-holding capacity. As plant-soil interactions are substantially modified by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, we hypothesise that drought tolerance of serpentine plants is enhanced by AM fungi (AMF).

Methods

We conducted a pot experiment combining four levels of drought stress and three AMF inoculation treatments, using serpentine Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae) plants as a model.

Results

AMF inoculation improved plant growth and increased phosphorus uptake. The diminishing water supply caused a gradual decrease in plant growth, accompanied by increasing concentrations of drought stress markers (proline, abscisic acid) in root tissues. Mycorrhizal growth dependence and phosphorus uptake benefit increased with drought intensity, and the alleviating effect of AMF on plant drought stress was also indicated by lower proline accumulation.

Conclusions

We documented the role of AM symbiosis in plant drought tolerance under serpentine conditions. However, the potential of AMF to alleviate drought stress was limited beyond a certain threshold, as indicated by a steep decline in mycorrhizal growth dependence and phosphorus uptake benefit and a concomitant rise in proline concentrations in the roots of mycorrhizal plants at the highest drought intensity.     

Research progress on leaf mass per area

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a composite structural parameter as well as a basic leaf functional trait in the leaf economics spectrum (LES). It is not only closely related to many physiological responses of plants, but also can measure the investment of dry mass per unit of light-intercepting leaf area. LMA is considered an important indicator of plant ecological strategies and has been studied widely in plant ecology, agronomy, forestry, and plant physiology. This paper elucidates the structural analysis and computational methods of LMA at the organizational scales of whole leaf, tissues and cells, examines the influence of LMA on photosynthesis, and discusses the inherent differences in LMA and the responses of LMA to environmental stresses (temperature, water and light), aiming for clarifying research frameworks and methods in studies of LMA and providing guidance on future research.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi modulates dynamics tolerance expression to mitigate drought stress in Ephedra foliata Boiss

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are one of the most important drivers of soil ecosystem dynamics. AMF have the potential to improve plant growth and development by modulating key hormonal pathways, which result in decreasing the adverse impact of abiotic stress, such as drought. Pot experiments were conducted in this study to investigate the ability of AMF to ameliorate the adverse impact of drought in Ephedra foliate. Non-inoculated AMF E. foliate (Ef) plants, exhibited reduced growth in response to drought stress with a concomitant lowering of chlorophyll pigments, relative to non-stressed and AMF inoculated plant. AMF inoculated E. foliate showed improved nitrogen metabolism by positively regulating nitrate and nitrite reductase activity which results in greater ammonium availability for the synthesis of amino acids. Inoculation with AMF also increased antioxidant enzyme activity, ascorbic acid contents, and reduction in glutathione level. This resulted in significant amelioration of oxidative damage to plant membranes by restricting the excess generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide. Greater content of proline, glucose, and total soluble protein in AMF-inoculated plants provided further benefit to E. foliate plants and their ability to withstand drought stress, and also evident by a greater level of sucrose phosphate synthase activity. AMF significantly enhanced the uptake of essential nutrients like K, Mg, and Ca. Importantly, higher concentrations of plant hormones, including indole acetic acid (IAA), indole butyric acid (IBA), gibberellic acid (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA), were maintained in AMF-inoculated Ef plants. AMF inoculation also boosted phosphorous metabolism by increasing alkaline and acid phosphatase enzyme activity. In summary, AMF-inoculation of Ef plants significantly reduced the deleterious effect of drought stress by up-regulating the antioxidant defense system, synthesis of osmolytes, and maintaining phytohormone levels.