Differential efficiency of two strains of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on olive (Olea europaea) plants under two water regimes

• Published in: Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2013-10, Vol.61 (2), p.105-112
• Main Authors: Bompadre, M. J, Rios De Molina, M. C, Colombo, R. P, Fernandez Bidondo, L, Silvani, V. A, Pardo, A. G, Ocampo, J. A, Godeas, A. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; antioxidants; biochemical pathways; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Developmental Biology; DNA; drying; Ecology; Economic plant physiology; enzyme activity; Evolutionary Biology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; host plants; Life Sciences; lipids; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Microflora of plants; Miscellaneous; Mycology; mycorrhizal fungi; Olea europaea; olives; Plant Sciences; plant-water relations; production technology; proteins; reactive oxygen species; Rhizophagus irregularis; survival rate; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); trees; water stress
• ISSN: 0334-5114; 1878-7665
• DOI: 10.1007/s13199-013-0260-0

The water regime affects a wide variety of physiological and biochemical processes in plants including an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of causing oxidative damage to proteins, DNA and lipids. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize a wide range of plant species though the ability of different AMF species to promote host growth or contribute to plant water deficit resistance varies. The first phase of olive tree cultivation takes place in a nursery where plants usually suffer stress by drying. Currently, olive production systems do not use of AMF to counteract this problem. To study the colonization strategies of two AMF strains and their efficiency with respect to growth and their effect on enzymatic activities, we inoculated them individually and co-inoculated then on olive plants under nursery growing conditions. The results showed the benefits generated by these fungi in terms of growth and survival rate. Co-inoculation, particularly, improved growth and reduced the damage due to water stress, partly as a result of the activation of the antioxidant defenses in the olive plant host.