Mitigation of Drought Stress by Piriformospora indica in Solanum melongena L. cultivars

The present study was undertaken to investigate the amelioration of drought stress in Solanum melongena L. cultivars (Arka Shirish and F1 hybrid) upon Piriformospora indica application under greenhouse conditions. Two cycles of drought stress were induced to both cultivars of S. melongena L. Piriformospora indica-colonized roots performed better as compared to uninoculated plants. An increase in root length (1.5-fold), shoot length (≅ 1.5-fold) and biomass (two fold) was observed with Piriformospora indica treated plants over untreated plants under drought stress. The percent colonization was found to be ≅ 75%, and the accumulation of proline was found to be the highest in the Piriformospora indica treated S. melongena L. plants. An increase in total chlorophyll, relative water content, guaiacol peroxidase activity and catalase activity was observed in P. indica-inoculated roots as compared to uninoculated roots. P. indica-colonized S. melongena L. plants were able to tolerate two cycles of drought stress. © 2019, The National Academy of Sciences, India.