Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica

Endophytic fungi are known to enhance plant growth and performance under salt stress. The current study investigated the growth, as well as biochemical and molecular properties of Phoenix dactylifera colonized with the mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica, under control and salinity stress. Our...

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Main Authors: Miloofer Sabeem, Mughair Abdul Aziz, Sangeeta K. Mullath, Faical Brini, Hatem Rouached, Khaled Masmoudi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1037273/full
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author Miloofer Sabeem
Mughair Abdul Aziz
Sangeeta K. Mullath
Faical Brini
Hatem Rouached
Khaled Masmoudi
author_facet Miloofer Sabeem
Mughair Abdul Aziz
Sangeeta K. Mullath
Faical Brini
Hatem Rouached
Khaled Masmoudi
author_sort Miloofer Sabeem
collection DOAJ
description Endophytic fungi are known to enhance plant growth and performance under salt stress. The current study investigated the growth, as well as biochemical and molecular properties of Phoenix dactylifera colonized with the mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica, under control and salinity stress. Our findings indicated an increase in the plant biomass, lateral root density, and chlorophyll content of P. indica-colonized plants under both normal and salt stress conditions. Furthermore, there was a decline in the inoculated plants leaf and root Na+/K+ ratio. The colonization enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase in plants. Increased ionic content of Zn and P were also found in salt-stressed date palm. The fungus colonization was also associated with altered expression levels of essential Na+ and K+ ion channels in roots like HKT1;5 and SOS1 genes. This alteration improved plant growth due to their preservation of Na+ and K+ ions balanced homeostasis under salinity stress. Moreover, it was confirmed that RSA1 and LEA2 genes were highly expressed in salt-stressed and colonized plant roots and leaves, respectively. The current study exploited P. indica as an effective natural salt stress modulator to ameliorate salinity tolerance in plants.
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spelling doaj.art-6f9a5a9c5a1d42cbb42f395844cb8df72022-12-22T03:46:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2022-11-011310.3389/fpls.2022.10372731037273Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indicaMiloofer Sabeem0Mughair Abdul Aziz1Sangeeta K. Mullath2Faical Brini3Hatem Rouached4Khaled Masmoudi5Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al−Ain, Abu−Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al−Ain, Abu−Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, IndiaPlant Protection Laboratory, Center of Biotechnology, Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Sfax, TunisiaMichigan State University, Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al−Ain, Abu−Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesEndophytic fungi are known to enhance plant growth and performance under salt stress. The current study investigated the growth, as well as biochemical and molecular properties of Phoenix dactylifera colonized with the mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica, under control and salinity stress. Our findings indicated an increase in the plant biomass, lateral root density, and chlorophyll content of P. indica-colonized plants under both normal and salt stress conditions. Furthermore, there was a decline in the inoculated plants leaf and root Na+/K+ ratio. The colonization enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase in plants. Increased ionic content of Zn and P were also found in salt-stressed date palm. The fungus colonization was also associated with altered expression levels of essential Na+ and K+ ion channels in roots like HKT1;5 and SOS1 genes. This alteration improved plant growth due to their preservation of Na+ and K+ ions balanced homeostasis under salinity stress. Moreover, it was confirmed that RSA1 and LEA2 genes were highly expressed in salt-stressed and colonized plant roots and leaves, respectively. The current study exploited P. indica as an effective natural salt stress modulator to ameliorate salinity tolerance in plants.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1037273/fullAntioxidantdate palmmolecular mechanismNa+/K+ ratioP. indicasalt stress
spellingShingle Miloofer Sabeem
Mughair Abdul Aziz
Sangeeta K. Mullath
Faical Brini
Hatem Rouached
Khaled Masmoudi
Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica
Frontiers in Plant Science
Antioxidant
date palm
molecular mechanism
Na+/K+ ratio
P. indica
salt stress
title Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica
title_full Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica
title_fullStr Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica
title_short Enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using Piriformospora indica
title_sort enhancing growth and salinity stress tolerance of date palm using piriformospora indica
topic Antioxidant
date palm
molecular mechanism
Na+/K+ ratio
P. indica
salt stress
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1037273/full
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AT faicalbrini enhancinggrowthandsalinitystresstoleranceofdatepalmusingpiriformosporaindica
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