Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and physiological functions toward wetland plants under different water regimes.

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been widely reported to occur in the association with wetland plants. However, the factors that affect AMF colonization in wetland plants and physiological functions in AMF inoculated wetland plants are poorly studied. This study investigated the effects of four water regimes (below the surface of sands: water levels of 5cm, 9cm, 11cm, and fluctuating water depth (9-11cm)) on AMF root colonization in two wetland plants (Phalaris arundinacea and Scirpus sylvaticus) which are commonly used in constructed wetland. Results showed that two lower water regimes were the most suitable for the formation of root colonization by AMF. Plant species did not show any significant difference in AMF colonization. The AMF colonization of 15.6-23.3% in the roots of both wetland plants were determined under the water regimes of 11cm and 9-11cm. In comparison to the non-inoculated plants, root length, shoot height, biomass, shoot total phosphorus and chlorophyll contents of both wetland plants under the fluctuating water regimes (9-11cm) were increased by 35.4-46.2%, 13.1-26.6%, 33.3-114.3%, 25.7-80% and 14.3-24%, respectively. Although malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in both AMF inoculated wetland plants were decreased under the lower water levels, the MDA contents under the water regime of 11cm were still high. Therefore, these results indicated that the physiological functions in wetland plants with high AMF colonization might be improved under a specific water regime condition (e.g. depth of fluctuating water regime).