Effects of ArbuscularMycorrhizal Fungi on root morphological properties of Poa in drought stress conditions

ABSTRACT: The frequency of extreme drought events is projected to increase under global climate change, causing damage to plants and crop yield despite potential acclimation. Grass hedges caused a substantial reduction in overland runoff and soil loss. Arbuscularmycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate biotrophs that live symbiotically in the roots of most plants. They are involved in obtaining and transporting phosphate and other nutrients from the soil to the plant roots and, in turn, the plant provides fixed carbon to the fungal partner. In short and mixed grass regions, where inter-annual precipitation varies widely, water availability may be the most influential limiting factor for plant growth and nutrient uptake. The impact of the arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi and different levels of moisture on the root morphological properties of Poa was studied in sterilized soil. The root morphological properties was slightly larger in field capacity than other moisture conditions. The results demonstrated that AM application will increase grass yield. Under different moisture conditions, root fresh and dry weight, volume and length was always higher in mycorrhizaltreatmens than in non-mycorrhizaltreatmens.The results demonstrate that AM infection can help ameliorate abiotic stress such as drought and there may be a selective advantage for grasses.