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. 2024 May 24:15:1349202.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1349202. eCollection 2024.

The coexistence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes synergistically enhanced the cadmium tolerance of maize

Zhaodi Wang  1 , Lei Wang  1 , Xinran Liang  1 , Guangqun Zhang  1 , Zuran Li  2 , Zhixin Yang  1 , Fangdong Zhan  1
Affiliations

The coexistence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes synergistically enhanced the cadmium tolerance of maize

Zhaodi Wang et al. Front Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEs) generally coexist in the roots of plants. However, our understanding of the effects of their coexistence on plant growth and stress resistance is limited.

Methods: In the present study, the effects of single and dual inoculation of AMF and DSE on the growth, photosynthetic physiology, glutathione (GSH) metabolism, endogenous hormones, and cadmium (Cd) content of maize under 25 mg•kg-1 Cd stress were investigated.

Results: Compared with that after the non-inoculation treatment, AMF+DSE co-inoculation significantly increased the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of maize leaves; promoted root GSH metabolism; increased the root GSH concentration and activity of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthase (γ-GCS), ATP sulfatase (ATPS) and sulfite reductase (SIR) by 215%, 117%, 50%, and 36%, respectively; and increased the concentration of endogenous hormones in roots, with increases in zeatin (ZR), indole-3 acetic acid (IAA), and abscisic acid (ABA) by 81%, 209%, and 72%, respectively. AMF inoculation, DSE inoculation and AMF+DSE co-inoculation significantly increased maize biomass, and single inoculation with AMF or DSE increased the Cd concentration in roots by 104% or 120%, respectively. Moreover, significant or highly significant positive correlations were observed between the contents of ZR, IAA, and ABA and the activities of γ-GCS, ATPS, and SIR and the glutathione (GSH) content. There were significant or highly significant positive interactions between AMF and DSE on the Pn of leaves, root GSH metabolism, and endogenous hormone contents according to two-way analysis of variance. Therefore, the coexistence of AMF and DSE synergistically enhanced the Cd tolerance of maize.

Keywords: cadmium stress; endogenous hormone; endophytic fungi; glutathione metabolism; synergistic effect.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of AMF and DSE on maize growth under Cd stress: (A) Shoot biomass; (B) Root biomass. The different lowercase letters and the same lowercase letters indicate significant and non-significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. CK, the control of non-inoculation; AMF, F. mosseae inoculation; DSE, E. pisciphila inoculation; AMF+DSE, co-inoculation of F. mosseae and E. pisciphila. “ns”, “*” and “**” means no significant, and p< 0.01 according to two-way ANOVA, respectively.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of AMF and DSE on photosynthesis of maize leaves under Cd stress: (A) Photosynthetic rate; (B) Transpiration rate; (C) Stomatal conductance; (D) Intercellular CO2 concentration. The and the same lowercase letters different lowercase letters indicate significant and non-significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. CK, the control of non-inoculation; AMF, F. mosseae inoculation; DSE, E. pisciphila inoculation; AMF+DSE, co-inoculation of F. mosseae and E. pisciphila. “ns”, “*” and “**” means no significant, and p < 0.01 according to two-way ANOVA, respectively.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of AMF and DSE on glutathione metabolism of maize roots under Cd stress: (A) GSH content; (B) GR activity; (C) γ-GCS activity; (D) ATPS activity; (E) SIR activity; (F) OAS-TL activity. The different lowercase letters and the same lowercase letters indicate significant and non-significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. CK, the control of non-inoculation; AMF, F. mosseae inoculation; DSE, E. pisciphila inoculation; AMF+DSE, co-inoculation of F. mosseae and E. pisciphila. “ns”, “*” and “**” means no significant, and p< 0.01 according to two-way ANOVA, respectively.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of AMF and DSE on endogenous hormone content in maize roots under Cd stress: (A) ZR content; (B) GA content; (C) IAA content; (D) ABA content. The different lowercase letters and the same lowercase letters indicate significant and non-significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. CK, the control of non-inoculation; AMF, F. mosseae inoculation; DSE, E. pisciphila inoculation; AMF+DSE, co-inoculation of F. mosseae and E. pisciphila. “ns”, “*” and “**” means no significant, and p < 0.01 according to two-way ANOVA, respectively.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of AMF and DSE on accumulation characteristics in maize under Cd stress: (A) Cd content in maize shoot; (B) Cd content in maize root; (C) Cd accumulation in maize shoot; (D) Cd accumulation in maize root. The and the same lowercase letters different lowercase letters indicate significant and non-significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. CK, the control of non-inoculation; AMF, F. mosseae inoculation; DSE, E. a pisciphila inoculation; AMF+DSE, co-inoculation of F. mosseae and E. pisciphila. “ns”, “*” and “**” means no significant, and p < 0.01 according to two-way ANOVA, respectively.
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