Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

Effect of symbiosis with mycorrhiza fungi on some physiological characteristics of basil (Osimum basilicum) under drought stress

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Former M.Sc. Student of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Horticultural Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
4 Professor of Research Institute of forests and Rangelands, Tehran. Iran
5 M.Sc. of Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Abstract
In order to study the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under drought stress on some physiological characteristics (leaf temperature, chlorophyll index, compatible solute accumulation) of basil (Osmium basilicum L.), a pot experiment was conducted as a factorial trial based on randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included application of two mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) plus a control check (non-application) and three irrigation regimes (4, 8 and 12 days intervals). Results showed that drought stress had a significant effect on all evaluated parameters, so that reducing soil water content decreased chlorophyll index while increased accumulation of proline and total soluble sugars in leaves as well as leaf temperature. Moreover mycorrhiza colonization had significant effects on all evaluated parameters except proline. The highest and the lowest amount of leaf chlorophyll index and total soluble sugars in leaves were observed in inoculated plants with G. mosseae and control (non-application of mycorrhizal) treatments, respectively.
Keywords

Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Autumn 2010
Pages 109-117

  • Receive Date 20 November 2008
  • Revise Date 22 November 2009
  • Accept Date 21 January 2010