Effect of mycorrhizal fungi on morphophysiologycal traits of Teucrium chamaedrys ‎L. under salt stress conditions

Teucrium chamaedrys L. belongs to Lamiaceae family and besides its usage as a ground cover plant in landscape, it has medicinal properties as well. This greenhouse study was carried out in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications to evaluate the effects of mycorrhizal fungi (non-inoculated, inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae, inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices) on morphophysiological responses of T. chamaedrys L. under salinity stress (0, 60 and 120 mM NaCl). Under salinity conditions, application of mycorrhizal fungi increased root growth, chlorophyll, proline and phosphorus content and reduced electrolyte leakage and sodium content. The highest dry weight of root (44.53 g) was observed in 60 mM salinity using F. mosseae. In 120 mM salinty treatment, applicatin of F. mosseae caused 12.7 percent increas inleaf dry weight compared to non-inoculated plants. The highest sodium content (11.97 mg /g) was detected in 120 mM salinity treatment without inoculation. Non-stressed plants that inoculated with F. mosseae showed the maximum amount of phosphorus (23.98 mg /g). There was no significant difference between F. mosseae and R. intraradices treatments in chlorophyll, proline and ion leakage in all salinity levels. The results clarify that application of both F. mosseae and R. intraradices were beneficial for T. chamaedrys tolerance to salinity stress and this effect was more pronounced with F. mosseae.