Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve the Antioxidative Response and the Seed Production of Suaedoideae Species Suaeda physophora Pall under Salt Stress

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in plant growth and survival; however, the influence of AMF on the growth and production of Suaedoideae species is still not well understood. The object of this study was to understand the mechanism of AMF that affects the growth of Suaedoideae species under different saline conditions. The result showed that the Suaedoideae species Suaeda physophora was colonized by the AMF species Glomus etunicatum (Ge) and Glomus mosseae (Gm). AMF significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in S. physophora and reduced the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 in the leaves of S. physophora under salt stress. AMF also improved the aboveground biomass of S. physophora and significantly increased its seed numbers. Moreover, AMF increased the aboveground phosphorus (P) content of S. physophora. No significant difference between the effect of AMF species Ge and Gm on S. physophora growth was observed. These results suggest that AMF can increase the salt resistance of the Suaedoideae species S. physophora by increasing SOD and POD activities, reducing MDA and H2O2 concentrations and increasing P uptake. The results highlight that AMF might play an important role in S. physophora growth and population survival under harsh salt conditions.