The Effect of Mycorrhiza-like Fungus Piriformospora indica on Some Morphophysiological Traits of Rice under Normal and Drought Stress Conditions

Micorrhizal fungi provide greater absorbing surface for the transfer of nutrients to plant roots and therefore improve the plant growth. Piriformospora indica as a Micorrhizal-like fungus exhibits a high effect in plant growth and increased resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. The goal of this research was the study of the potential of P. indica to colonize the roots of rice plant and enhances growth and elevating drought resistance. This study was done as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications and was conducted in the greenhouse of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute (Isfahan). The experimental factors included 2 fungal levels (inoculated and non-inoculated) and 3 drought levels (F.C., 50% F.C., 25% F.C.). The results indicated that P. indica can colonize rice roots plant. Also, inoculation of plant with P.indica increased the biomass of rice plants, as in inoculated plants under severe drought stress total shoot dry weight and root dry weight was increased by 47% and 63%, respectively. Under severe stress conditions, RWC in inoculated plant was greater as well (19% was higher than control plants). The results showed the effective role of fungus in enhancing rice morphological parameters in drought stress conditions (especially at the 25% F.C. level). According to the results, it seems that Rice is also one of the hosts of this fungus and endophytic fungus can provide the possibility of rice cultivation in other regions of Iran. As well as the improvement of growth in inoculated rice plant will decrease the requirement to chemical fertilizer in flooded rice cultivation.