Effect of two species of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and G. fasciculatum) on agronomic and physiological traits of hybrid maize (single cross 704) under drought stress

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Crop and Horticultural Sciences Research Department, Southern Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Jiroft, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a crucial cereal crop worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, valued for its high nutritional content and diverse uses. Drought stress is a major limiting factor for maize growth and yield, impairing key physiological processes such as photosynthesis and cellular division. Effective drought management is essential, as water scarcity directly compromises yield and plant quality. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots, mitigating the adverse effects of drought by enhancing water and nutrient uptake and improving soil structure. Based on previous findings, plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi exhibit enhanced drought tolerance and improved physiological performance under water-limited conditions. This study aims to evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on maize performance under drought stress, with a focus on enhancing agricultural sustainability in the Jiroft region.
 
Materials and methods
This study was conducted at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of South Kerman Province in 2022–2023 to evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on hybrid maize (single cross 704) under drought stress. The experiment was conducted as a split-plot arrangement based on a completely randomized block design with three replications. Four levels of drought stress (50%, 70%, 90%, and 100% of the plant’s water requirement) and three seed inoculation treatments—two mycorrhizal fungi species (Glomus fasciculatum and G. mossea) and a non-inoculated control—were evaluated. The response of maize to drought was examined starting from the 8-leaf stage. Various physiological traits, including chlorophyll content and leaf relative water content, were measured. Chlorophyll was assessed using a chlorophyll meter, and leaf relative water content was determined by measuring the fresh and dry weights of leaf samples. Other traits, including proline content, were also measured using standard methods. Data were analyzed using SAS software (version 4.2) to determine correlations and perform mean comparisons.
 
Results and discussion
In this study, the interaction between drought stress levels and mycorrhizal fungi significantly influenced several agronomic and physiological traits of hybrid maize (single cross 704). The maximum plant height (251.93 cm) was observed under full irrigation combined with G. mossea inoculation. Conversely, the least plant height (205.07 cm) occurred under 50% of the plant’s water requirement without mycorrhizal inoculation, indicating a strong influence of water availability on cell division and plant height. Similarly, cob length was maximized under full irrigation combined with G. mossea, and decreased under reduced water supply, likely due to reduced photosynthesis and nutrient transport. Cob number per plant and grain number per row were also influenced by water stress and mycorrhizal treatments. Full irrigation supplemented with G. fasciculatum resulted in the highest cob count, suggesting enhanced meristematic activity. Grain number per row was maximized under optimal conditions when combined with G. mossea.  Irrigation levels exerted a significant effect on seed weight, with the highest values observed under full irrigation and G. mossea inoculation, highlighting the importance of optimal water availability and mycorrhizal symbiosis for seed development. Notably, the yield was highest under optimal irrigation conditions combined with G. mossea, where mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances water and nutrient absorption. Mycorrhizal fungi significantly influenced physiological traits under drought stress. The highest water content and chlorophyll levels were observed under full irrigation and mycorrhizal inoculation, due to enhanced water uptake facilitated by mycorrhizal inoculation. Proline accumulation, a stress indicator, was minimized when drought stress was accompanied by mycorrhizal inoculation, demonstrating the fungi’s role in stress mitigation.
 
Conclusion
The use of mycorrhizal fungi in this study demonstrated that they can mitigate the negative effects of drought stress and contribute to significant improvements in plant performance, including increased chlorophyll content and reduced proline levels. The results indicated that mycorrhizal inoculation under optimal irrigation conditions enhances grain yield. The high correlation observed among most evaluated traits suggests that improvement in one trait may positively influence other traits, enhancing overall plant performance. This study confirms the importance of using mycorrhizal fungi as an effective strategy to enhance plant tolerance to drought stress and improve agronomic traits, underscoring the need for continued research to develop more effective solutions for sustainable agricultural management.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 
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Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 July 2026

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  • Receive Date: 28 December 2024
  • Revise Date: 14 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 January 2025

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