Publication Date:
2014-09-01
Description:
This study elucidated whether the beneficial effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis was different in male and female Populus tomentosa Carrière trees. Female and male cuttings of P. tomentosa were treated with two AM fungal regimes, with or without an AM fungus (Glomus constrictum Trappe) inoculation, and with three salt regimes, no salt, low-salinity level (100 mmol·L–1 NaCl), and high-salinity level (200 mmol·L–1 NaCl). Our results showed that AM fungal colonization alleviated the salt-induced reduction in growth, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigment content, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the leaves, stems, and roots under low-salinity conditions. However, these effects were not alleviated under high-salinity conditions. AM fungal colonization was associated with a reinforcement of the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPx) and an inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) in treated plants of both genders under low-salinity conditions. Furthermore, sodium (Na+) and chlorine (Cl–) concentrations in tree organs were lower in the AM than the non-AM plants under the low-salinity condition in both sexes. AM fungal treatment may protect salt-stressed plants via the inhibition of salt-induced oxidative stress, which improves nutrient absorbance and inhibits Na+ transport from the roots to the shoots. In addition, small differences in plant growth induced by AM fungal colonization were observed between sexes, but significant gender differences were obtained in other parameters such as SOD and GPx activities and N and P concentrations.
Print ISSN:
0045-5067
Electronic ISSN:
1208-6037
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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