Ecophysiological traits and root fungal associations of six halophytes under two field saline soil conditions
摘要
Halophytes are considered a model for understanding plant salt-stress tolerance mechanisms because of their high interspecific biodiversity. However, little evidence shows how two cosmopolitan fungal root endorhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE), influence these plants under salinity soil conditions. Hence, the ecophysiological response of six halophytes under two natural salinity conditions and their relation with AMF and DSE were studied to increase the knowledge on their differences in plant salinity tolerance. The study was performed in the Colegio de Postgraduados research area in the former Lake Texcoco, Mexico. Under two salinity field conditions, ecophysiological responses regarding soil, foliar, root variables, and fungal root colonization were evaluated in six halophytes. This is the first field-based simultaneous study of both AMF and DSE colonization across multiple halophytes under two contrasting salinity soil conditions. It also shows that halophytes displayed different ecophysiological responses, and these are influenced by the plant-fungi interaction. Suaeda torreyana was directly associated with colonization by DSE, foliar relative water content, and leaf succulence index. Cynodon dactylon and Distichlis spicata were linked to AMF colonization, proline concentration, and photosynthetic pigments. Kalinia obtusiflora plants related to total root-glomalin related proteins (TR-GRP), and Baccharis salicina and Bassia scoparia to total-glomalin related soil proteins (T-GRSP). T-GRSP were lower with higher soil EC, but TR-GRP behaved contrarily. This study suggests, for the first time, the participation of TR-GRP in saline soils. Both types of GRP were related to soil Ca2+ concentration and appear to be implicated in soil structure and stability, suggesting future research to increase evidence of the role of AMF in halophytes in saline soils. Discussion is made on the application of breakthroughs to climate change adaptation, phytoremediation and sustainable agriculture. Moreover, their implications related to the suggested new name of glomalin (glomalose).