Synergistic Action of Exogenous Salicylic Acid and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Colonization in Avena nuda Seedlings in Response to NO2 Exposure

Colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae or exogenous salicylic acid (SA) treatment can increase Avena nuda plant tolerance to elevated NO2 exposure. The combination of the two factors, namely application of SA to the mycorrhizal plants, further promoted NO2 tolerance, as indicated by an alleviated plant biomass decrease compared to the respective treatment. The analysis of antioxidant capacity, redox status and photon energy utilization showed that the increased NO2 tolerance in the treated plants may be associated, at least in part, with scavenging reactive oxygen species, maintaining CO2 assimilated rate and reducing conditions in cells.