Abstract
BackgroundWater-deficit stress is known as one of the most severe environmental stresses affecting the growth of plants through marked reduction of water uptake, which leads to osmotic stress by lowering water potential. Adopting appropriate varieties using soil microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, can significantly reduce the adverse effects of water deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Funneliformis mosseae on nutrient uptake and certain physiological traits of two chamomile varieties, namely Bodgold (Bod) and Soroksári (Sor) under osmotic stress. For pot culture, a factorial experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three factors: osmotic stress (PEG 6000) was applied along with Hoagland solution at three levels (0, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa), two German chamomile varieties (Bodgold (Bod) and Soroksari (Sor)), and AM inoculation (Funneliformis mosseae species (fungal and non-fungal)) at four replications in perlite substrate.ResultsOsmotic stress significantly reduced the uptake of macro-nutrients (N and P) and micro-nutrients (Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn) in the shoots and roots. Moreover, the level of osmolytes (total soluble sugars and proline) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the shoots of both varieties increased under osmotic stress. Regarding the Sor variety, the level of these compounds was more satisfactory. AM improved plant nutrition uptake and osmolyte contents while enhancing antioxidant enzymes and reducing the adverse effects of osmotic stress. Under osmotic stress, the growth and total dry weight were improved upon AM inoculation.ConclusionsIn general, inoculation of chamomile with AM balanced the uptake of nutrients and increased the level of osmolytes and antioxidant enzymes; hence, it improved plant characteristics under osmotic stress in both varieties. However, it was found to be more effective in reducing stress damages in the Sor variety.
Highlights
Water-deficit stress is the leading cause of decremented annual plant performance
Concerning medicinal plants, water-deficit stress increases the synthesis of secondary metabolites, it can decline the growth of the plant, its vegetative and reproductive organs which generally contain medicinal compounds (Selmar et al 2017)
These findings indicated that to reduce the unfavorable effects of osmotic stress on chamomile plant growth, the use of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) inoculation ought to be considered as a biological method to alleviate chamomile stress
Summary
Water-deficit stress (due to global warming and climate change) is the leading cause of decremented annual plant performance. Concerning medicinal plants, water-deficit stress increases the synthesis of secondary metabolites, it can decline the growth of the plant, its vegetative and reproductive organs (biomass) which generally contain medicinal compounds (Selmar et al 2017). It reduces the nutrient uptake of chamomile (Salehi et al 2016), which plays a vital role in its total dry weight and essential oil content (Andrzejewska and Woropaj-Janczak 2014). This study aimed to evaluate the role of Funneliformis mosseae on nutrient uptake and certain physiological traits of two chamomile varieties, namely Bodgold (Bod) and Soroksári (Sor) under osmotic stress. A factorial experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three factors: osmotic stress (PEG 6000) was applied along with Hoagland solution at three levels (0, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa), two German chamomile varieties (Bodgold (Bod) and Soroksari (Sor)), and AM inoculation (Funneliformis mosseae species (fungal and non-fungal)) at four replications in perlite substrate
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