Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2014, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (9): 1001-1007.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00094

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Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and anatomical properties of stomata and xylem in poplars

LIU Ting1,TANG Ming2,*()   

  1. 1College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
    2College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
  • Received:2014-02-24 Accepted:2014-06-18 Online:2014-02-24 Published:2014-09-22
  • Contact: TANG Ming

Abstract:

Aims Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were previously reported to afford some plant species with greater resistance to drought stress. Most of the mycorrhizal studies have been focused on physiological responses of host plants affected by AMF. However, characteristics of stomata, vessel and fibre are also closely related to plant water use efficiency. Hence, this study was conducted to examine the effects of AMF on anatomical properties of stomata and xylem in poplars.
Methods A controlled pot-experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of an AMF, Rhizophagus irregularis, on the anatomical properties of stomata and xylem in Populus × canadensis (P. nigra × P. deltoides) ‘Neva’ under drought and well watered conditions.
Important findings Results showed that AMF increased the biomass production, stomatal length, vessel diameter and fibre length of the poplar seedlings. The effects of AMF on biomass and vessel diameter were greater under drought condition than under well watered condition; whereas the effects on stomatal length were greater under well watered condition than under drought condition. AMF imposed a positive effect on stomatal density and a negative effect on fibre length, but did not affect water deficit in seedlings under well watered condition. Under drought, the effects of AMF were positive on fibre diameter, negative on water deficit, and not significant on stomatal density. In summary, the effects of AMF on vessel properties were greater under drought condition than under well watered condition; whereas the effects on stomatal properties were stronger under well watered condition than under drought condition. This might be beneficial for plants to maintain water and reduce water deficit when suffering from drought. Hence, AMF could promote the drought tolerance in poplars.

Key words: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, drought, fibre, poplar, stoma, vessel