Abstract

Salinity is one of the most harmful abiotic stresses that affect wheat development and metabolism. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of biostimulants/biofertilizers as an environment-friendly practice for improving wheat tolerance to salinity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted on a durum wheat variety: Carioca. The wheat seedlings were treated with a pure strain of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (M; Rhizoglomus irregulare) and /or compost (C; made from olive pomace with olive mill wastewater under non-saline, medium and high saline (100 and 200 mM NaCl) conditions. The results showed that C application significantly decreased mycorrhizal infection. Salinity reduced growth, physiological functioning, and biochemical processes. However, selected biostimulants/biofertilizers application, especially C alone, mitigated the negative effects of salinity by improving wheat shoot dry weight (65%), root dry weight (22%), phosphorus uptake (544%), and stomatal conductance (180%) than control under 200 mM NaCl. In addition, C application alone and/or M treatments improved osmotic adjustment and antioxidant system, maintained a higher stem water potential, reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content and increased glomalin secretion in soil. These results showed that compost and/ or Rhizoglomus irregulare could mediate salt tolerance and enhance wheat production in degraded areas.

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