Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization improves growth and biochemical profile in Acacia arabica under salt stress.

This study elucidated the individual and mixed mycorrhizal effects of two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) isolates on growth and biochemical status of Acacia arabica under salinity stress gradients. Salt treatment provided in soil hampered legume growth and its biochemical status. But, mycorrhizal colonizations in plant root system reduced the extent of deleterious salt effect and also helped in plant growth enhancement. Additionally, mixed mycorrhizal association (Glomus mosseae + Glomus fasciculatum) responded better towards osmolyte accumulation and in salt stress alleviation. Due to individual and mixed mycorrhizal colonizations in A. arabica; protein, carbohydrate and reducing sugar acquisitions were found maximum at soil salinity of 5.94 dS/m over corresponding non-mycorrhizal plant. However, mixed AM inoculation accumulated proline content and improved dry biomass to a higher magnitude at the highest soil salinity level. Mixed AM (G. mosseae + G. fasciculatum) colonization improved maximum amount of total chlorophyll (20.94%), protein (19.72%), carbohydrate (23.83%), reducing sugar (17.60%) at soil salinity of 5.94 dS/m and dry biomass (20.35%), proline content (10.99%) at salinity level of 8.26 dS/m when compared with non-mycorrhizal counterpart. Greater magnitude of AM root colonization was found in mixed AM treated plant and may be responsible for more improvement in growth and biochemical status and consequently mitigated adverse salt effect better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]