Abstract
We investigated the impact of drought and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the morphological structure and physiological function of shoots and roots of male and female seedlings of the dioecious plant Populus cathayana Rehder. Pot-grown seedlings were subjected to well watered or water-limiting conditions (drought) and were grown in soil that was either inoculated or not inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices. No significant differences were found in the infection rates between the two sexes. Drought decreased root and shoot growth, biomass and root morphological characteristics, whereas superoxide radical (O2–) and hydrogen peroxide content, peroxidase (POD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and proline content were significantly enhanced in both sexes. Male plants that formed an AM fungal symbiosis showed a significant increase in shoot and root morphological growth, increased proline content of leaves and roots, and increased POD activity in roots under both watering regimes; however, MDA concentration in the roots decreased. By contrast, AM fungi either had no effect or a slight negative effect on the shoot and root growth of female plants, with lower root biomass, total biomass and root/shoot ration under drought. In females, MDA concentration increased in leaves and roots under both watering regimes, and the proline content and POD activity of roots increased under drought conditions; however, POD activity significantly decreased under well-watered conditions. These findings suggest that AM fungi enhanced the tolerance of male plants to drought by improving shoot and root growth, biomass and the antioxidant system. Further investigation is needed to unravel the complex effects of AM fungi on the growth and antioxidant system of female plants.
Highlights
Poplar is a widely cultivated forest tree of high economic value [1]
Both male and female poplars grown in pots inoculated with R. intraradices formed typical arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal structures (Fig 1A and 1B), whereas seedlings grown in pots that were not inoculated did not form any mycorrhizas
The absence of AM fungi in the roots of poplars that did not receive the inoculum treatments was further confirmed by performing a nested-PCR
Summary
Poplar is a widely cultivated forest tree of high economic value [1]. Poplars have a high level of water consumption and are drought-sensitive [2,3]. Populus cathayana Rehder, a typical dioecious plant, is an important ecological species that has spread widely in Qinghai. Effects of AM Fungi and Drought on Populus cathayana analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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