Thermal infrared imaging study of water status and growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal soybean (Glycine max) under drought stress

Abstract

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant water status and growth under drought stress were investigated using soybean subjected to drought stress (40% of soil water-holding capacity (WHC)) and control conditions (60% WHC) either inoculated with AMF or uninoculated controls. Leaf temperature (Tleaf) and stomatal conductance (gs) were determined at 10:00, 12:00 and 18:00 on the harvest day. The effects of AMF on the water physiological status and growth of soybeans under drought stress were examined using thermal infrared imaging technology (TIIT). AMF inoculation under drought stress increased plant above- and below-ground biomass, nutritional status, and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake rates, and reduced plant root/shoot ratio. Monitoring Tleaf reflected the effect of AMF on plant water physiological status under drought stress. AMF inoculation resulted in a decline in Tleaf of 0.1–0.4 °C as water uptake proceeded compared with an increase of 0.2–1.4 °C in uninoculated controls. Thus, the effects of AMF on soybean drought resistance changed from positive to negative. AMF reduced plant Tleaf, promoted the accumulation of photosynthetic products, reduced malondialdehyde accumulation, and increased stomatal regulation and Tleaf. These preliminary results provide a basis for further studies on the effects of AMF on the water and growth status of plants under drought stress in arid areas.