Impact of Water Shortage on Soil and Plant Attributes in the Presence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi from a Harsh Environment

Author(s)

Silva, Antonio Marcos Miranda ; Feiler, Henrique Petry ; Qi, Xue ; de Araujo, Victor Lucas Vieira Prudencio ; Lacerda-Jr, Gileno Vieira ; Fernandes-Jr, Paulo Ivan ; Cardoso, Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROORGANISMS; v. 11, n. 5, p. 15-pg., 2023-04-28.

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in plant health due to their ability to improve tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pool of native AMF from a harsh environment on plant performance and changes in soil attributes under different levels of drought. An experiment using maize was established, varying the soil water content to simulate severe drought (30% of the water-holding capacity [WHC]), moderate (50% of the WHC) and no drought (80% of the WHC, control treatment). Soil and plant attributes were measured (enzyme activity, microbial biomass, AMF root colonisation and plant biomass and nutrient uptake). There was a two-fold increase in plant biomass under moderate drought when compared to no drought treatment, but there was no difference in nutrient uptake. Under severe drought, there were the highest enzyme activities related to phosphorus (P) cycling and P microbial biomass, indicating higher P microbial immobilization. The increase in AMF root colonisation was observed in plants under moderate and no drought. Our findings demonstrated that the better use of the AMF inoculum varied according to drought levels, with better performance under moderate drought due to the increase in plant biomass. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/13436-8 - Mitigation of water stress in maize (Zea mays L.) after arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculation
• Grantee: Antonio Marcos Miranda Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/18944-3 - Climatic changes and energetic efficiency in agriculture: focusing on hydric stress, organic management and soil biology
• Grantee: Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants