Effect of Funneliformis mosseae on growth, mineral nutrition, biochemical indexes and chlorophyll content of Ziziphus spina-christi seedlings at different salinities

Abstract

Vast area of the land around the world is saline. Knowledge of plant behavior and their interaction with mychorrizal fungi in saline areas may help seedling establishment in such environments. This study aimed to determine the effects of the inoculation of the fungus Funneliformis mosseae (FM) on Ziziphus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) plants grown under salt stress. Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings were exposed to different levels of NaCl in the soil (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM). The following parameters were measured in both inoculated and non-inoculated plants: root colonization rate, seedling height, root diameter, root and shoot dry weights, chlorophyll a and b, total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sodium (Na+) content, proline accumulation in roots and leaves, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The results showed that soil salinity hampered the root colonization by the fungus, and decreased basal diameter, seedling height, root and shoot dry weights, as well as some nutrients and chlorophyll a concentration, while increased leaves and roots Na+, SOD and POD activity, proline accumulation, as well as CAT activity in the roots. Contrastingly, no significant effect of soil salinity were detected on K and CAT of leaves, root N, and chlorophyll b. Inoculated plants had higher basal diameter, leaves and roots P, root and shoot dry weights, chlorophyll a and lower SOD content, proline accumulation in leaves and Na+, as compared with non-inoculated plants. Seedling height, root N, CAT and POD content, and chlorophyll b were not affected by inoculation with FM. These results demonstrated that FM inoculation is a promising method for improving the growth of Z. spina-christi seedlings under salt stress.