Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal symbiosis in alleviation of drought induced nodule senescence in Pisum sativum L

Abstract

newline vi newlineABSTRACT newlineLegume plants when exposed to drought stress result in premature nodule senescence, which leads to decreasing the ability for nitrogen fixation. Drought stress enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced oxidative damage to plant tissues. Pisum sativum L., an important vegetable and cash crop was selected for the present study and the aim was to determine the effect of AMF symbiosis in alleviation of drought induced nodule senescence in P. sativum. P. sativum was subjected to drought stress for a period of 10 days in combination with different treatments of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Several parameters associated with the nodule senescence were determined under drought stress and well-watered conditions singly or dually inoculated with AMF, Glomus coronatum and Glomus etunicatum. The major finding of the present study included significant decrease in plant biomass, nutrient content, AMF root colonization, leghemoglobin content, protein content and increase the oxidative damage to proteins and lipids in root nodules of non-inoculated control plants. However, plants inoculated with AMF showed positive results with increased plant biomass, nutrient content, AMF root colonization, leghemoglobin content, protein content and decreased oxidative damage to lipids and proteins Overall analysis concluded that inoculation of AMF in combination have achieved better growth and development of plant under drought stress than inoculation with single AMF. newlineKeywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, drought stress, Glomus coronatum, Glomus etunicatum, leghemoglobin, Pisum sativum L.