title: Root colonization by an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus increases growth and secondary metabolism of purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.
abstract: Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, is an important phytomedicinal species that contains phenolics and alkamides with antipathogenic properties. This study aimed to examine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization on the physiology and biochemistry of E. purpurea. It was hypothesized that AM colonization enhances the growth and secondary metabolism in E. purpurea. In this regard, a 13-week factorial greenhouse experiment was performed with E. purpurea, inoculated (or not) with the AM fungus Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith. Overall, the results indicated that AM colonization significantly increased the mass of shoots and roots and the concentrations of proteins and most of the phenolics in the roots. Hence, the selected trait of mycorrhiza could play an important role in optimizing the growth of E. purpurea by inducing the production of secondary phytomedicinal metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Araim
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charest
mesh_terms: D020900:Echinacea / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D010940:Plant Proteins