Evaluation of the effect of endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica symbiosis on improving of growth characteristics of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea cv. Tomahawk) under drough stress

Environmental stresses including drought stress are one of the most important factors reducing performance and growth and development of plants. The use of soil microorganisms is a promising technique to increase plant resistance to water stress. This study was carried out in order to evaluate tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea cv. Tomahawk) drought stress tolerance potential under drought stress and inoculation of microbial treatment with root fungus Piriformospora indica.

The research was performed in the research site of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Urmia University, during the years 2020-2021 as factorial-split plot in time based on randomized complete block design with three replications that experimental factors included inoculation and non-inoculation with P. indica and drought stress (30, 70 and 100% FC). After exerting drought stress, harvesting (sampling) was performed four times with an interval of 10 days. The measured traits included fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, relative water content, chlorophyll a and b content, activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes, potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen amount in shoot and root tissue.

The shoot fresh, dry weight, and the relative water content decreased with drought stress and the lowest amount was recorded in 40% of field capacity. P. indica inoculation caused the preservation of these traits. P. indica treatment caused an increment of 20.27, 37.21, 16.32, 13.02, 11.1% in root length, chlorophyll a content, amount of shoot potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, respectively. P. In addition, P. indica with increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes including catalase and ascorbate peroxidase causes preservation of the chlorophyll a, b content, and the shoot fresh and dry weight that reduced the effects of drought stress.

It is inferred that microbial inoculation with P. indica by improving the growth and biochemical characteristics of plants plays an important role in increasing the resistance to water deficit stress in Festuca arundinacea. Therefore, P. indica can be used as an effective environmentally friendly compatible in drought stress conditions in Festuca arundinacea cv. Tomahawk in the urmia weather conditions.Therefore, P. indica can be used as an effective environmentally friendly compatible in drought stress conditions in Festuca arundinacea cv. Tomahawk in the urmia weather conditions.K e y w o r d s: A n t i o x i d a n t e n z y m e s, W a t e r d e f fi ci t stress, Phosphorus, Microbial inoculation, Nitrogen.