Interaction between mycorrhizal fungi and jasmonic acid and their effects upon the growth, and metabolic activities of lupine plants grown under saline conditions.

Abstract

The interactive effects of both vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal(VAM) fungus (Glomus intraradices) and jasmonic acid (JA) on the growth and physiological responses of lupine plants (Lupinus termis) grown in the presence of three levels of NaCl (0 , 50 and 100) were investigated. The results showed that treatments of the salinized plants with VAM and JA individually or in combination statistically increased growth (root and shoot height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of root and shoot and pigment content of leaves). The accumulation of total soluble sugars, proline and total free amino acids contents increased plant tolerance to salinity, especially when plants were treated with both VAM fungus and JA. SDS- Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of lupine plants, revealed induction of novel proteins which played an integral role in increasing plant protection against salinity. Proteins with Mwt of 4, 5, 36, 18 and 15.7 Kda were accumulated in plants treated with the mycorrhizal fungus, while JA induced the accumulation of salt novel proteins (JIPs) of Mwt 116, 52.4, 38.5, 33, 29.1, 16 and 14.5 Kda. Whereas, proteins of Mwt 94.5, 44, 32, 30, 28 21 and 15 Kda were induced in plants treated with both the mycorrhizal fungus and JA. The concentrations of minerals in lupine plants were influenced greatly by sodium chloride treatment. VAM and /or JA increased N,P and K and decreased Na+ and Mg++ contents in treated lupine plants compared with non-treated ones. It was can concluded that there is a combined effect between VAM and JA on decreasing the tolerance of lupine plants.