Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (1): 247-256.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.01.26

• Plant and Plant Physiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of drought stress and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi on root growth, nitrogen absorption, and distribution of two desert riparian plant seedlings

SANG Yu(),GAO Wenli,Zainur Tursu,FAN Xue,MA Xiaodong()   

  1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Specis Conservation and Regulatory Biology in Autonomous Region, Key Laboratory of Plant Stess Biology in Arid Land, College of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, Xingjiang, China
  • Received:2020-05-11 Revised:2020-07-24 Online:2021-01-15 Published:2021-03-05
  • Contact: Xiaodong MA E-mail:1013200771@qq.com;mxd1107@126.com

Abstract:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an essential role in plants’ drought resistance and nutrient absorption. We studied the dominant shrub, T. ramosissima, and the common subshrub, Alhagi sparsifolia, in the desert riparian forest in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. The inoculation of AMF under drought stress management (CK and S, soil relative water contents of 70% ± 5% and 20% ± 5%) and the single (TR, AS) and mixed planting (TR + AS) modes was analyzed. Also, the effects of inoculation and non-inoculation of AMF on the growth and root characteristics of T. ramosissima and A. sparsifolia were compared. The results showed that (1) under drought stress, the mycorrhizal infection rate of T. ramosissima and A. sparsifolia decreased, and the mycorrhizal infection rate of T. ramosissima seedlings increased significantly under mixed planting. (2) Under drought stress, the under-and aboveground biomass of T. ramosissima seedlings increased significantly under mixed planting. (3) Under drought stress, AM significantly increased the roots’ length and surface area of their fine roots under different planting modes and significantly reduced the specific root length of the A. sparsifolia. Also, the ratio of fine roots to root length of T. ramosissima seedlings under M+ treatment was significantly reduced. (4) Compared with single planting, AMF significantly increased the nitrogen intake and distribution ratio in the aboveground part of T. ramosissima seedlings under drought stress. Therefore, AMF has a compensatory effect on the growth and nitrogen absorption of T. ramosissima seedlings mixed with A. sparsifolia under drought stress, which is beneficial for T. ramosissima seedlings in the lower reaches of the Tarim River to survive the fragile growth period.

Key words: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, drought stress, Tamarix ramosissima, Alhagi sparsifolia, nitrogen