Arbuscular mycorrhizae and nitrogen assimilation in maize after drought and recovery

In a greenhouse experiment, the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith) colonization on N assimilation in maize (Zea mays L.) was examined after well-watered, drought and recovery periods. Seeds of selection cycles C0 (drought-sensitive) and C8 (drought-resistant) of the tropical maize cultivar Tuxpeño sequía were used for this study. Maize plants were exposed or not to drought stress for 3 weeks (45-65 days after sowing, DAS) followed by 3 weeks of recovery (66-86 DAS) at the preflowering stage. Root and shoot samples harvested at the end of the drought or well-watered and recovery periods were determined for key enzymes involved in N assimilation (NR, nitrate reductase; NiR, nitrite reductase; GS, glutamine synthetase; GOGAT, glutamate synthase), protein and amino acid concentrations, and total N contents. Drought stress significantly (P ≤ 0.01 or P ≤ 0.001) decreased all the enzyme activities except NiR in the roots and shoots of both cultivars. After 3 weeks of drought, the AM roots of both cultivars had higher activities of NR (C0, 45%; C8, 26%), GS (C0, 76%; C8, 33%) and GOGAT (C0, 41%; C8, 53%) than non-AM roots and were comparable to well-watered plants. These enzyme activities were also enhanced in drought-stressed AM shoots of C0 and C8. Total amino acid concentrations in AM plants of C0 were 4.6 and 1.6 times higher in roots and shoots, respectively, compared to non-AM plants. The predominant amino acids detected were Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Gln and Glu which constituted approximately 56 and 75% of the total pool in roots and shoots, respectively. Soluble proteins and total N contents were also higher in AM plants than non-AM plants under drought conditions. The enhancement of N-assimilating enzymes and nitrogenous compounds in maize may indicate a transfer of NO₃^? through the extraradical mycelium or increased N assimilation due to the AM symbiosis. Our overall results suggest that AM association plays an important role in enhancing N assimilation or N nutritional status which enables the host plant to withstand drought conditions and recover after stress is relieved.     

Acquisition of N by external hyphae of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and its impact on physiological responses in maize under drought-stressed and well-watered conditions

This study examined the uptake of nitrogen by external hyphae of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices Schenck &; Smith) and its impact on physiological responses in maize plants subjected to well-watered or drought-stressed conditions. Plants were grown in compartmented boxes divided by a nylon mesh (40?μm) into a root compartment and a hyphal compartment. Maize plants (Zea mays cv. 'Tuxpeño sequia' selection cycle C0) were exposed to 2 weeks of drought 56 days after sowing. A ^[15]N tracer was applied as K^[15]NO_[3] to the hyphal compartment at a distance of 5?cm from the root compartment. Root and shoot samples were then analyzed for ^[15]N atom % excess (APE), glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, protein concentration and nutritional status. Evapotranspiration rate and stomatal resistance were monitored daily to determine the degree of drought stress. The APE values for AM shoots and roots were 32% and 33% higher than non-AM shoots and roots, respectively, under drought conditions. This provides clear evidence that the external mycelium of AM fungus transports considerable amounts of ^[15]NO_[3]^[– ]to the host plant under drought conditions. Drought-stressed AM roots had 28% higher GS activity, possibly as a consequence of higher hyphal acquisition of NO_[3]^[–] ions. Mycorrhizal colonization significantly increased the host plant P status regardless of soil moisture regime. In addition, the N status of drought-stressed AM shoots and roots was slightly higher than stressed non-AM shoots and roots. The improved nutritional status may assist AM plants to exploit available soil moisture more efficiently and to maintain higher leaf relative water content under moderate drought conditions.     

Tolerance of Mycorrhiza infected pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) seedling to drought stress under glasshouse conditions

The influence of Glomus etunicatum colonization on plant growth and drought tolerance of 3-month-old Pistacia vera seedlings in potted culture was studied in two different water treatments. The arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) inoculation and plant growth (including plant shoot and root weight, leaf area, and total chlorophyll) were higher for well-watered than for water-stressed plants. The growth of AM-treated seedlings was higher than non-AM-treatment regardless of water status. P, K, Zn and Cu contents in AM-treated shoots were greater than those in non-AM shoots under well-watered conditions and drought stress. N and Ca content were higher under drought stress, while AM symbiosis did not affect the Mg content. The contents of soluble sugars, proteins, flavonoid and proline were higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal-treated plants under the whole water regime. AM colonization increased the activities of peroxidase enzyme in treatments, but did not affect the catalase activity in shoots and roots under well-watered conditions and drought stress. We conclude that AM colonization improved the drought tolerance of P. vera seedlings by increasing the accumulation of osmotic adjustment compounds, nutritional and antioxidant enzyme activity. It appears that AM formation enhanced the drought tolerance of pistachio plants, which increased host biomass and plant growth.     

Effect of drought stress on growth and water relations of the mycorrhizal association Helianthemum almeriense-Terfezia claveryi

 Plants of Helianthemum almeriense were micropropagated on MS medium and inoculated in vitro with Terfezia claveryi mycelium on MH medium and vermiculite. Mycorrhizal (M) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants were subjected to a drought stress period of 3 weeks in greenhouse conditions with the soil matric potential maintained at –0.5 MPa. Drought stress did not affect the amount of mycorrhizal colonization. The survival rate of M plants at the end of the drought stress period was higher than that of NM plants. The water potential was higher in M plants than in NM plants by 14% in well-watered and 26% in drought-stressed plants. Transpiration, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis were higher in M plants than in NM plants. Transpiration was 92% higher in M plants than in NM plants under drought-stress conditions and 40% when irrigated. Stomatal conductance was 45% and 14% higher and net photosynthesis 88% and 54% higher, respectively, in M than in NM plants. Drought-stressed M plants accumulated more N, P and K than drought-stressed NM plants. Reduced negative effects of drought stress on H. almeriense by the desert truffle T. claveryi could be ascribed to specific physiological and nutritional mechanisms, suggesting that this mycorrhizal symbiosis aids adaptation to arid climates. Accepted: 7 July 2000     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and growth of frankincense seedlings under pulsed water availability conditions

Under drought conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi alter water relationships of plants and improve their resistance to drought. In a factorial greenhouse experiment, we tested the effects of the AM symbiosis and precipitation regime on the performance (growth, gas exchange, nutrient status and mycorrhizal responsiveness) of Boswellia papyrifera seedlings. A continuous precipitation regime was imitated by continuous watering of plants to field capacity every other day during 4 months, and irregular precipitation by pulsed watering of plants where watering was switched every 15 days during these 4 months, with 15 days of watering followed by 15 days without watering. There were significantly higher levels of AM colonization under irregular precipitation regime than under continuous precipitation. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher biomass than control seedlings. Stomatal conductance and phosphorus mass fraction in shoot and root were also significantly higher for mycorrhizal seedlings. Mycorrhizal seedlings under irregular watering had the highest biomass. Both a larger leaf area and higher assimilation rates contributed to higher biomass. Under irregular watering, the water use efficiency increased in non-mycorrhizal seedlings through a reduction in transpiration, while in mycorrhizal seedlings irregular watering increased transpiration. Because assimilation rates increased even more, mycorrhizal seedlings achieved an even higher water use efficiency. Boswellia seedlings allocated almost all carbon to the storage root. Boswellia seedlings had higher mass fractions of N, P, and K in roots than in shoots. Irregular precipitation conditions apparently benefit Boswellia seedlings when they are mycorrhizal. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2258-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal influence on leaf water potential, solute accumulation, and oxidative stress in soybean plants subjected to drought stress

This study investigated several aspects related to drought tolerance in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) soybean plants. The investigation included both shoot and root tissues in order to reveal the preferred target tissue for AM effects against drought stress. Non-AM and AM soybean plants were grown under well-watered or drought-stressed conditions, and leaf water status, solute accumulation, oxidative damage to lipids, and other parameters were determined. Results showed that AM plants were protected against drought, as shown by their significantly higher shoot-biomass production. The leaf water potential was also higher in stressed AM plants (-1.9 MPa) than in non-AM plants (-2.5 MPa). The AM roots had accumulated more proline than non-AM roots, while the opposite was observed in shoots. Lipid peroxides were 55% lower in shoots of droughted AM plants than in droughted non-AM plants. Since there was no correlation between the lower oxidative damage to lipids in AM plants and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, it seems that first the AM symbiosis enhanced osmotic adjustment in roots, which could contribute to maintaining a water potential gradient favourable to the water entrance from soil into the roots. This enabled higher leaf water potential in AM plants during drought and kept the plants protected against oxidative stress, and these cumulative effects increased the plant tolerance to drought.     

Azospirillum and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization enhance rice growth and physiological traits under well-watered and drought conditions

The response of rice plants to inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Azospirillum brasilense, or combination of both microorganisms, was assayed under well-watered or drought stress conditions. Water deficit treatment was imposed by reducing the amount of water added, but AM plants, with a significantly higher biomass, received the same amount of water as non-AM plants, with a poor biomass. Thus, the water stress treatment was more severe for AM plants than for non-AM plants. The results showed that AM colonization significantly enhanced rice growth under both water conditions, although the greatest rice development was reached in plants dually inoculated under well-watered conditions. Water level did not affect the efficiency of photosystem II, but both AM and A. brasilense inoculations increased this value. AM colonization increased stomatal conductance, particularly when associated with A. brasilense, which enhanced this parameter by 80% under drought conditions and by 35% under well-watered conditions as compared to single AM plants. Exposure of AM rice to drought stress decreased the high levels of glutathione that AM plants exhibited under well-watered conditions, while drought had no effect on the ascorbate content. The decrease of glutathione content in AM plants under drought stress conditions led to enhance lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, inoculation with the AM fungus itself increased ascorbate and proline as protective compounds to cope with the harmful effects of water limitation. Inoculation with A. brasilense also enhanced ascorbate accumulation, reaching a similar level as in AM plants. These results showed that, in spite of the fact that drought stress imposed by AM treatments was considerably more severe than non-AM treatments, rice plants benefited not only from the AM symbiosis but also from A. brasilense root colonization, regardless of the watering level. However, the beneficial effects of A. brasilense on most of the physiological and biochemical traits of rice plants were only clearly visible when the plants were mycorrhized. This microbial consortium was effective for rice plants as an acceptable and ecofriendly technology to improve plant performance and development.     

Alleviation of drought stress of marigold (Tagetes erecta) plants by using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus “AMF” (Glomus constrictum Trappe) on growth, pigments, and phosphorous content of marigold (Tagetes erecta) plant grown under different levels of drought stress was investigated. The applied drought stress levels reduced growth vigor (i.e. plant height, shoot dry weight, flower diameter as well as its fresh and dry weights) of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plant as compared to control plant (non-drought stressed plant). The presence of mycorrhizal fungus, however, stimulated all growth parameters of the treated plant comparing to non-mycorrhizal treated plant. The photosynthetic pigments (carotene in flowers and chlorophylls a and b in leaves) were also stimulated by the mycorrhizal fungi of well-watered as well as of water-stressed plants. The total pigments of mycorrhizal plants grown under well-watered conditions were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal ones by 60%. In most cases, drought-stressed mycorrhizal plants were significantly better than those of the non-mycorrhizal plants. So, the overall results suggest that mycorrhizal fungal colonization affects host plant positively on growth, pigments, and phosphorous content, flower quality and thereby alleviates the stress imposed by water with holding.     

Plant Responses to Drought Stress and Exogenous ABA Application are Modulated Differently by Mycorrhization in Tomato and an ABA-deficient Mutant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitiens</Emphasis>)

The aims of the present study are to find out whether the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis on plant resistance to water deficit are mediated by the endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) content of the host plant and whether the exogenous ABA application modifies such effects. The ABA-deficient tomato mutant sitiens and its near-isogenic wild-type parental line were used. Plant development, physiology, and expression of plant genes expected to be modulated by AM symbiosis, drought, and ABA were studied. Results showed that only wild-type tomato plants responded positively to mycorrhizal inoculation, while AM symbiosis was not observed to have any effect on plant development in sitiens plants grown under well-watered conditions. The application of ABA to sitiens plants enhanced plant growth both under well-watered and drought stress conditions. In respect to sitiens plants subjected to drought stress, the addition of ABA had a cumulative effect in relation to that of inoculation with G. intraradices. Most of the genes analyzed in this study showed different regulation patterns in wild-type and sitiens plants, suggesting that their gene expression is modulated by the plant ABA phenotype. In the same way, the colonization of roots with the AM fungus G. intraradices differently regulated the expression of these genes in wild-type and in sitiens plants, which could explain the distinctive effect of the symbiosis on each plant ABA phenotype. This also suggests that the effects of the AM symbiosis on plant responses and resistance to water deficit are mediated by the plant ABA phenotype.     

Impairment of NtAQP1 gene expression in tobacco plants does not affect root colonisation pattern by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but decreases their symbiotic efficiency under drought

We investigated in two tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plant lines (wildtype or antisense mutant) whether impairment in expression of the plasma membrane aquaporin gene (NtAQP1) affects the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonisation pattern or the symbiotic efficiency of AM fungi. These two objectives were investigated under well-watered and drought stress conditions. Both plant lines had a similar pattern of root colonisation under well-watered and drought stress conditions. In contrast, under drought stress, AM wildtype plants grew faster than mycorrhizal antisense plants. Plant gas exchange also appeared to depend on the expression of NtAQP1 and parallelled the determined growth increments. The implications of enhanced symplastic water transport via NtAQP1 for the efficiency of the AM symbiosis under drought stress conditions are further discussed.     

水分胁迫下AM真菌对枳实生苗叶片矿质营养吸收的影响

在温室盆栽条件下研究丛枝菌根真菌(AM真菌)Glomus versiforme对水分胁迫下(正常水分为对照)的枳[Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.]实生苗叶片矿质营养吸收的影响.研究表明,水分胁迫显著抑制AM真菌对枳实生苗根系的侵染.无论在正常水分还是在水分胁迫下,AM真菌的感染显著提高枳实生苗叶片P、K和Ca的含量,水分胁迫下的菌根贡献率均高于对照;AM真菌的接种对叶片N、Mg和Cu含量没有显著影响.与未接种处理相比,AM真菌处理仅对水分胁迫下的枳实生苗叶片Fe和Zn含量有显著促进作用.研究还表明,接种处理降低叶片Mn含量,正常水分下达到显著水平.     

Osmotic solute responses of mycorrhizal citrus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poncirus trifoliata</Emphasis>) seedlings to drought stress

This study investigated the accumulation of osmotic solutes in citrus (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings colonized by Glomus versiforme subjected to drought stress or kept well watered. Development of mycorrhizae was higher under well watered than under drought-stressed conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) seedlings accumulated more soluble sugars, soluble starch and total non-structural carbohydrates in leaves and roots than corresponding non-AM seedlings regardless of soil-water status. Glucose and sucrose contents of well-watered and drought-stressed roots, fructose contents of well-watered roots and sucrose contents of drought-stressed leaves were notably higher in AM than in non-AM seedlings. K⁺ and Ca²⁺ levels in AM leaves and roots were greater than those in non-AM leaves and roots, while AM symbiosis did not affect the Mg²⁺ level. AM seedlings accumulated less proline than non-AM seedlings. AM symbiosis altered both the allocation of carbohydrate to roots and the net osmotic solute accumulations in response to drought stress. It is concluded that AM colonization enhances osmotic solute accumulation of trifoliate orange seedlings, thus providing better osmotic adjustment in AM seedlings, which did not correlate with proline but with K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, glucose, fructose and sucrose accumulation.     

Effects of soil water deficit and nitrogen nutrition on water relations and photosynthesis of pot-grown Coffea canephora Pierre

Coffea canephora plants (clone INCAPER-99) were submitted to low N (LN) or high N (HN) applications and two watering regimes (daily irrigation and irrigation every 5 days for a month). Although water potential was not altered significantly by N, HN plants showed higher relative water content than did LN plants under water deficit. Only HN plants exhibited some ability for osmotic adjustment. Plants from both N treatments increased their cell wall rigidity under drought, with a more pronounced augmentation in HN plants. In well-watered plants, carbon assimilation rate increased with increasing N while stomatal conductance did not respond to N supply. Under drought conditions, carbon assimilation decreased by 68-80% compared to well-watered plants, whereas stomatal conductance and transpiration rate declined by 35% irrespective of the N applications. Stable carbon isotope analysis, combined with leaf gas exchange measurements, indicated that regardless of the watering treatments, N increased the long-term water use efficiency through changes in carbon assimilation with little or no effect on stomatal behaviour.     

Nutritional, growth, and reproductive responses of maize (Zea mays L.) to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation during and after drought stress at tasselling

The effects of root colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith on nutritional, growth, and reproductive attributes of two tropical maize cultivars with different sensitivities to drought were studied. Freshly regenerated seeds of selection cycles 0 (cv. C0, drought-sensitive) and 8 (cv. C8, drought-resistant) of the lowland tropical maize population "Tuxpeño sequía" were used in this greenhouse experiment. Maize plants were subjected to drought stress for 3 weeks following tasselling (75–95 days after sowing) and rewatered for the subsequent 5 weeks until harvest. Mycorrhizal (M+) plants had significantly higher uptake of N, P, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn into grain than non-mycorrhizal (M–) plants under drought conditions. AM inoculation also produced significantly greater shoot masses in C0 and C8 regardless of the drought-stress treatment. In the sensitive cultivar C0, drought stress reduced the shoot mass and grain yield by 23% and 55%, respectively, when roots were not colonized, while the reductions were only 12% and 31%, respectively, with mycorrhizal association. In addition, the emergence of tassels and silks was earlier in M+ plants than in M– plants under drought conditions. Mycorrhizal response was more pronounced under both well-watered and drought conditions in C0 than in the C8 cultivar. The overall results suggest that AM inoculation affects host plant nutritional status and growth and thereby alters the reproductive behaviour of maize under drought conditions.     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and drought stress on growth and nutrient uptake of two wheat genotypes differing in drought resistance

 The effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus and drought stress on the growth, phosphorus, and micronutrient uptake of two wheat genotypes exhibiting differences in drought resistance were investigated. Plants were grown on a low P (4 mg kg^–1 soil) silty clay (Typic Xerochrept) soil-sand mix. Mycorrhizal infection was higher under well-watered than under dry soil conditions and the drought-resistant genotype CR057 had a higher mycorrhizal colonization than the drought-sensitive genotype CR006. Total and root dry matter yields and total root length were higher in mycorrhizal than in nonmycorrhizal plants of both genotypes. CR057 had higher total dry matter but not root dry matter than CR006 plants. The enhancement in total dry matter due to AM inoculation was 42 and 39% under well-watered and 35 and 45% under water-stressed for CR057 and and CR006, respectively. For both genotypes, the contents of P, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe were higher in mycorrhizal than in nonmycorrhizal plants and higher under well-watered than under dry soil conditions. The enhancement of P, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe uptake due to AM inoculation was more pronounced in CR006 than in CR057, particularly under water-stressed conditions. Thus CR006 benefitted from AM infection more than the CR057 under dry soil conditions, despite the fact that CR057 roots were highly infected. It appears that CR006 is more dependent on AM symbiosis than CR057. Accepted: 12 February 1997     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter Fractal Dimension Characteristics of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Seedlings Through Regulating Plant Growth,Leaf Water Status,Photosynthesis, and Nutrient Concentration Under Drought Stress

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, on plant growth, leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, nutrient concentration, and fractal dimension (FD) characteristics of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings was studied in pot culture under well-watered, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress treatments. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher dry biomass, leaf relative water content (RWC), and water use efficiency (WUE) compared with non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Under all treatments, AMF colonization notably enhanced net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, but decreased intercellular CO₂ concentration. Leaf chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll concentrations were higher in AM seedlings than those in non-AM seedlings although there was no significant difference between AMF species. AMF colonization improved leaf C, N, and P concentrations, but decreased C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. Mycorrhizal seedlings had a larger FD value than non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The FD value was positively and significantly correlated to the plant growth parameters, photosynthesis, RWC, WUE, and nutrient concentration but negatively correlated to leaf/stem ratio, C:N and C:P ratios, and intercellular CO₂ concentration. We conclude that AMF lead to an improvement of growth performance of black locust seedlings under all growth conditions, including drought stress via improving leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake. Moreover, FD technology proved to be a powerful non-destructive method to characterize the effect of AMF on the physiology of host plants during drought stress.     

Effects of ectomycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on drought tolerance of four leguminous woody seedlings

Seedlings ofAcacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex. Benth.,Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.,Gliricidia sepium (Jac.) Walp andLeucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. were inoculated with an ectomycorrhizal (Boletus suillus (l. ex. Fr.) or indigenous vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in a low P soil. The plants were subjected to unstressed (well-watered) and drought-stressed (water-stressed) conditions. InGliricidia andLeucaena, both mycorrhizal inoculations stimulated greater plant growth, P and N uptake compared to their non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants under both watering regimes. However, inAcacia andAlbizia, these parameters were only stimulated by either ectomycorrhiza (Acacia) or VA mycorrhiza (Albizia). Growth reduction occurred as a result of inoculation with the other type of mycorrhiza. This was attributed to competition for carbon betweenAcacia and VA mycorrhizas and parasitic association betweenAlbizia and ectomycorrhiza. Drought-stressed mycorrhizal and NMLeucaena, and drought-stressed mycorrhizalAcacia tolerated lower xylem pressure potentials and larger water losses than the drought-stressed mycorrhizal and NMAlbizia andGliricidia. These latter plants avoided drought by maintaining higher xylem pressure potentials and leaf relative water content (RWC). All the four leguminous plants were mycorrhizal dependent. The higher the mycorrhizal dependency (MD), the lower the drought tolerance expressed in terms of drought response index (DRI). The DRI may be a useful determinant of MD, as they are inversely related.     

Cloning of cDNAs encoding SODs from lettuce plants which show differential regulation by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and by drought stress

In the present study three cDNA fragments were cloned using degenerate primers for Mn-sod genes and PCR: two showed a high degree of identity with Mn-sods from plants and the third with Fe-sod. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis down-regulated their expression pattern under well-watered conditions. In contrast, AM symbiosis in combination with drought stress considerably increased the expression of the Mn-sod II gene and this correlated well with plant tolerance to drought. These results would suggest that mycorrhizal protection against oxidative stress caused by drought may be an important mechanism by which AM fungi protect the host plant against drought.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and methyl jasmonate avoid the inhibition of root hydraulic conductivity caused by drought

Hormonal regulation and symbiotic relationships provide benefits for plants to overcome stress conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) application on root hydraulic conductivity (L) of Phaseolus vulgaris plants which established arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis under two water regimes (well-watered and drought conditions). The variation in endogenous contents of several hormones (MeJA, JA, abscisic acid (ABA), indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA)) and the changes in aquaporin gene expression, protein abundance and phosphorylation state were analyzed. AM symbiosis decreased L under well-watered conditions, which was partially reverted by the MeJA treatment, apparently by a drop in root IAA contents. Also, AM symbiosis and MeJA prevented inhibition of L under drought conditions, most probably by a reduction in root SA contents. Additionally, the gene expression of two fungal aquaporins was upregulated under drought conditions, independently of the MeJA treatment. Plant aquaporin gene expression could not explain the behaviour of L. Conversely, evidence was found for the control of L by phosphorylation of aquaporins. Hence, MeJA addition modified the response of L to both AM symbiosis and drought, presumably by regulating the root contents of IAA and SA and the phosphorylation state of aquaporins.