Fungal endophytes alleviate salt stress in wheat in terms of growth, ion homeostasis and osmoregulation

Aims This study examined the ability of isolated endophytic fungi to confer salt stress tolerance on wheat. Methods and Results Tolerance of pot-grown wheat in greenhouse to salt stress was measured by estimating emergence rate, growth, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis, Na(+)and K(+)contents, as well as sugar and proline levels under salt stress in inoculated wheat seedlings.Chaetomiumcoarctatum(66 center dot 7%) andAlternariachlamydospora(56 center dot 7%) improved wheat seedling emergence under moderate salinity (2 center dot 5 dS m(-1)) compared to noninoculated plant (50%). However, under severe salinity (14 dS m(-1)), wheat emergence was enhanced only byA.chlamydospora. Additionally,A.chlamydosporaandFusariumequisetienhanced root growth under saline conditions. The tested endophytes exhibited high proline content relative to control.Chaetomiumcoarctatumshowed the highest leaf sugar level under saline stress. Conclusion Endophytic fungi bio-inoculation improved wheat salt stress tolerance. Significance and Impact of the Study The capacity of endophytic fungi to increase wheat tolerance under salinity stress and to improve growth could be applicable to agriculture.