Mycorrhiza fungi effects on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of corn exposed to drought stress

Mycorrhiza fungi are the useful symbiotic associations in most plants and play a key role in the cycle of nutrients and tolerance degree against environmental stresses. A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of mycorrhiza fungi symbiosis on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of corn exposed to drought stress. The experiment was based on a factorial completely randomized design with five replications. Treatments included three levels of moisture regimes (60، 80 and 100% field capacity)، and two species of mycorrhiza fungi (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae) and control. Results indicated that plant dry weight and chlorophyll a and b contents decreased with the moisture stress levels. Proline concentration in plant leaves increased under drought stress. The plants with mycorrhiza fungi associations had more chlorophyll b content. Interaction between drought stress and fungal species on the concentrations of chlorophyll a and b، proline concentration and plant dry weight was significant. The K and Fe concentrations in whole plant increased with moisture stress levels. Mycorrhiza fungi significantly increased concentrations of P، Cu، Fe، Mn، Zn and B in plant. The micronutrient concentrations in plants inoculated with G. mosseae were higher than the other one، suggesting that spice G. mosseae is more efficient for improvement plant nutritional status. In general، findings revealed that inoculation of corn roots with mycorrhiza fungi can improve the root surface، uptake of nutrients especially micronutrients، and degree of plant tolerance against drought stress.