Salt tolerance of barley induced by the root endophyte Piriformospora indica is associated with a strong increase in antioxidants.
The root endophytic basidiomycete Piriformospora indica has been shown to increase resistance against biotic stress and tolerance to abiotic stress in many plants. Biochemical mechanisms underlying P. indica-mediated salt tolerance were studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare) with special focus on antioxidants. Physiological markers for salt stress, such as metabolic activity, fatty acid composition, lipid peroxidation, ascorbate concentration and activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase enzymes were assessed. Root colonization by P. indica increased plant growth and attenuated the NaCl-induced lipid peroxidation, metabolic heat efflux and fatty acid desaturation in leaves of the salt-sensitive barley cultivar Ingrid. The endophyte significantly elevated the amount of ascorbic acid and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in barley roots under salt stress conditions. Likewise, a sustained up-regulation of the antioxidative system was demonstrated in NaCl-treated roots of the salt-tolerant barley cultivar California Mariout, irrespective of plant colonization by P. indica. These findings suggest that antioxidants might play a role in both inherited and endophyte-mediated plant tolerance to salinity.
Baltruschat
Helmut
H
Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Fodor
József
J
Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottóút 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
Harrach
Borbála D
BD
Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottóút 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
Niemczyk
Elżbieta
E
The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Cracow, Poland.
Barna
Balázs
B
Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottóút 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
Gullner
Gábor
G
Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottóút 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
Janeczko
Anna
A
The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Cracow, Poland.
Kogel
Karl-Heinz
KH
Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Schäfer
Patrick
P
Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Schwarczinger
Ildikó
I
Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottóút 15, H-1022, Budapest, Hungary.
Zuccaro
Alga
A
Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Skoczowski
Andrzej
A
The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Cracow, Poland.
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001467:Hordeum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001205:Ascorbic Acid