WHEAT BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE TO CADMIUM TOXICITY UNDER Funneliformis mosseae AND Piriformospora indica SYMBIOSIS

The effects of root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae were investigated on some biochemical parameters in leaves and roots of Triticum aestivum cv. ‘Sardari39’ under Cadmium (Cd) stress. The experiment was carried out with inoculation treatments of F. mosseae, P. indica, F. mosseae + P. indica and no-inoculation (control) at four Cd concentrations (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM Cd). The results revealed that in non-inoculated plants, H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline contents increased in leaves and roots in response to increasing soil Cd concentrations. However, guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity in roots and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in leaves and roots increased at lower Cd concentrations, while at higher Cd concentrations the rate decreased. In the presence of P. indica and F. mosseae + P. indica, H2O2 and MDA contents decreased, and proline accumulation increased in wheat leaves and roots. Also, the presence of P. indica increased GPX and SOD activities in leaves and roots. The study concluded that P. indica and F. mosseae were able to maintain an efficient symbiosis with wheat plants in soil at high Cd concentrations. However, the impact of P. indica in alleviating Cd stress was more noticeable than that of F. mosseae.