Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis alleviates drought
stress in plants. However, the intimate mechanisms involved,
as well as its effect on the production of signalling molecules associated
with the host plant–AM fungus interaction remains
largely unknown. In the present work, the effects of drought
on lettuce and tomato plant performance and hormone levels
were investigated in non-AM and AM plants. Three different
water regimes were applied, and their effects were analysed
over time. AMplants showed an improved growth rate and efficiency
of photosystem II than non-AM plants under drought
from very early stages of plant colonization. The levels of the
phytohormone abscisic acid, as well as the expression of the
correspondingmarker genes, were influenced by drought stress
in non-AMandAMplants. The levels of strigolactones and the
expression of corresponding marker genes were affected by
both AM symbiosis and drought. The results suggest that AM
symbiosis alleviates drought stress by altering the hormonal
profiles and affecting plant physiology in the host plant. In
addition, a correlation between AM root colonization,
strigolactone levels and drought severity is shown, suggesting
that under these unfavourable conditions, plants might increase
strigolactone production in order to promote symbiosis
establishment to cope with the stress.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 441-452 |
Journal | Plant, Cell & Environment |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- Abscisic acid
- AM symbiosis
- Drought stress
- Phytohormones
- Strigolactones