Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
PLANT GROWTH REGULATION, cilt.105, sa.2, ss.1-14, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Under soil saline conditions, biochemical alterations occur during plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) interactions, depending on the fungal strain involved and the intensity of the stress. This study aimed to evaluate the infectivity and efficacy of Rhizophagus irregularis by analyzing the biochemical responses it induces in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cv. ʽNacional-29ʼ under 50 mM NaCl stress. Nacional-29 is a chickpea variety developed at the Institute of Fundamental Research in Tropical Agriculture (INIFAT) “Alejandro de Humboldt” and is classified as susceptible to salinity when the soil saturation extract exceeds 30 mM. The effect of an AMF strain (INCAM 11 of Rhizophagus irregularis) from the INCA collection was assessed in chickpea plants regarding root colonization, accumulation of cytocompatible osmolytes, and the activity of various antioxidant enzymes. The analysis demonstrated enhanced antioxidant defense mechanisms, a significant increase in proline accumulation in the leaves of stressed mycorrhizal plants, and a substantial reduction in lipid peroxidation, with levels even lower than those in the inoculated control plants. The applied salt stress caused a redox imbalance, leading to a reduction of POX, SOD, and APX by 35%, 20%, and 25%, respectively, while increasing free radical levels. However, the inoculated stressed plants exhibited higher levels of total soluble carbohydrates and increased catalase and glutathione reductase activity, indicating that redox homeostasis was crucial for salinity tolerance. These findings indicate that R. irregularis enhances antioxidant defense mechanisms in chickpea plants, thereby improving their salinity tolerance. This could have significant implications for agricultural practices, particularly in developing strategies to enhance crop resilience in saline soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, such as R. irregularis, provide a sustainable solution for enhancing crop productivity in saline-affected areas, thereby contributing to food security in regions facing soil salinity challenges.