Mycorrhizal fungi increase salt tolerance of Strophostyles helvola in coastal foredunes

A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of increasing concentrations of salt (NaCl) solutions applied to the soil containing mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants of the leguminous species Strophostyles helvola (L.) Ell. The dry weight of roots and shoots and leaf chlorophyll content of S. helvola plants decreased with an increase in the concentrations of salt solutions. Although increasing salt concentrations promoted hyphal growth in mycorrhizal plants, the percent uncolonized root surface, arbuscules and vesicles decreased. An increase in the concentration of salt solutions did not decrease the number of root nodules. The data clearly showed evidence of significantly higher chlorophyll content, shoot dry weight and number of root nodules in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal plants. High salt concentrations had a negative effect on the growth of S. helvola plants but the negative effects were partially mitigated by the presence of mycorrhizal fungi.