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This research was funded by Seneca Foundation of Murcia, grant number 19903/GERM/15 and by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain, and the European Regional Development Fund, grant number RTI2018-093997-B-I00.

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Effect of Pisolithus tinctorious on Physiological and Hormonal Traits in Cistus Plants to Water Deficit: Relationships among Water Status, Photosynthetic Activity and Plant Quality

Publicated to:Plants-Basel. 10 (5): - 2021-05-01 10(5), doi: 10.3390/plants10050976

Zugasti López, Inés;

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Abstract

Summary: Cistus species can form ectomycorrhizae and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus that can bring benefits when plants are under water stress conditions. However, the application of some ectomycorrhizae on the water uptake under drought through physiological traits and hormonal regulation is less known. The experiment was performed during three months in a growth chamber with Cistus albidus plants in which the combined effect of the ectomycorrhiza Pisolithus tinctorious inoculation and two irrigation treatments (control and water-stressed plants) were applied. Irrigation absence caused significant decrease in aerial growth and tended to decrease soil water potential at the root surface, leading to a decrease in leaf water potential. Under these conditions, the abscisic acid and salicylic acid content increased while the precursor of ethylene decreased. Although the mycorrhization percentages were not high, the inoculation of P. tinctorious improved the water status and slightly cushioned the rise in leaf temperature of water-stressed plants. The ectomycorrhiza decreased the scopoletin values in leaves of plants subjected to deficit irrigation, indicating that inoculated plants had been able to synthesize defense mechanisms. Therefore, Pisolithus tinctorious alleviated some of the harmful effects of water scarcity in Cistus plants, being its use a sustainable option in gardening or restoration projects.

Keywords: ectomycorrhizae; mechanisms of resistance; ornamental plants; phytohormones; water relations; Abscisic-acid accumulation; Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis; Ectomycorrhizae; Gas-exchange; Ion uptake; L. plants; Mechanisms of resistance; Myrtus-communis; Ornamental plants; Phillyrea-angustifolia; Phytohormones; Root hydraulic-properties; Salicylic-acid; Stomatal conductance; Water relations; Water stress

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