Effects of Piriformospora indica on biochemical parameters of Oryza sativa under salt stress

Abstract

Salt stress is one of abiotic stress limiting growth and crop production worldwide. The endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica is a recently discovered basidomycete that increases plant resistance to environmental stresses. The aim of the present study was to measure biochemical changes in Oryza sativa L., colonized with P.indica and non-colonized (controls) under salt stress (0,100,200 and 300mM NaCl). We compared some biochemical parameters such as proline, the rate of lipid peroxidation level in terms of malondialdehyde, Na+ and K + concentrations and antioxidant enzyme (Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POX), Superoxide dismutase(SOD) and Polyphenol oxidase (PPO)) activities of O. sativa colonized with P.indica and control plants under salt stress. The results demonstrated that proline concentration and antioxidant enzyme activities were found to be higher in shoot of colonized plants than controls in response to increasing NaCl concentrations. Increased activity of antioxidant enzymes reduces the chances of oxidative burst and therefore P.indica might be protected from the oxidative defense system during colonization. Malondialdehyde was more decreased in colonized plants than controls. In addition, colonized plants have lower Na + and higher K + concentration in shoots than controls under salt stress. The results of this study also indicated the effective role of P.indica to improve growth of O.