Abstract Detail

Physiology

Mishra, Sasmita [1], Horace, Samantha [2].

Mycorrhizal Fungi Mediated Drought Tolerance in Tomato Plants.

Vascular plants provide a unique ecological niche for diverse communities of symbiotic microbes which often contribute multiple benefits, including tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. Effects of drought stress on plants are very well studied. However, a few studies examined the interaction among mycorrhizal fungi and plants during abiotic stress. The objective of this study is to evaluate the short-term effects of drought stress on different growth parameters and nutrient uptake in plants grown with and without mycorrhizal fungi (MF). We hypothesized that the presence of mycorrhizal fungi will ameliorate the negative effects of drought stress. A set of five replicates of 10-weeks-old tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings were transferred to perlite with mycorrhizal fungi (MF) and the control set without MF was exposed to progressive drought stress for six days by withholding water. Growth parameters such as shoot length, biomass, chlorophyll content, nutrient content, and total root protein concentrations were measured to observe the treatment effects. MF-inoculated plants had increased biomass, chlorophyll content, and other parameters compared to non-MF drought-stressed plants. Supporting the hypothesis our study concludes that mycorrhizal fungi ameliorate the negative effects of drought stress possibly by biomass allocation.

1 - Kean University, Department Of Biology, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ, 07083, United States
2 - Kean University, Biology, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ, 07083, USA

Keywords:
drought
Mycorrhizae
Nutrient conetent
nutrient uptake.

Presentation Type: Poster
Number: PPS006
Abstract ID:946
Candidate for Awards:None