Contributions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to growth, photosynthesis, root morphology and ionic balance of citrus seedlings under salt stress

A pot study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus mosseae and Paraglomus occultum) and salt (NaCl) stress on growth, photosynthesis, root morphology and ionic balance of citrus (Citrus tangerine Hort. ex Tanaka) seedlings. Eighty-five-day-old seedlings were exposed to 100 mM NaCl for 60 days to induce salt stress. Mycorrhizal colonization of citrus seedlings was not affected by salinity when associated with P. occultum, but significantly decreased when with G. mosseae. Compared with the non-mycorrhizal controls, mycorrhizal seedlings generally had greater plant height, stem diameter, shoot, root and total plant biomass, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance under the 0 and 100 mM NaCl stresses. Root length, root projected area and root surface area were also higher in the mycorrhizal than in the non-mycorrhizal seedlings, but higher root volume in seedlings with G. mosseae. Leaf Na+ concentrations were significantly decreased, but leaf K+ and Mg2+ concentrations and the K+/Na+ ratio were increased when seedlings with both G. mosseae and P. occultum. Under the salt stress, Na+ concentrations were increased but K+ concentrations decreased in the mycorrhizal seedlings. Under the salt stress, Ca2+ concentrations were increased in the seedlings with P. occultum or without AM fungi (AMF), but decreased with G. mosseae. Ratios of both Ca2+/Na+ and Mg2+/Na+ were also increased in seedlings with G. mosseae under the non-salinity stress, while only the Mg2+/Na+ ratio was increased in seedlings with P. occultum under the salt stress. Our results suggested that salt tolerance of citrus seedlings could be enhanced by associated AMF with better plant growth, root morphology, photosynthesis and ionic balance.