Seedlings of Zea mays L. under water stress are benefited from native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from savannah paraense, Brazil.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18593/evid.37329Keywords:
Amazon, Water déficit, Food securityAbstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a crop of significant socioeconomic importance worldwide due to its utilization in human and animal nutrition. However, like many crops, water deficit adversely affects its yield. This issue can be mitigated through the inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of AMF from the Alter-do-Chão Savannah on the growth and biochemical parameters of maize plants subjected to two irrigation regimes. Maize seedlings were assigned to two treatments: one with 200 g of inoculum (CI) and the other without inoculum (SI). Analyses were conducted over two periods: the first, from days 16 to 32, under adequate irrigation; and the second, from days 32 to 40, where irrigation was suspended on the thirty-second day. The experimental design was completely randomized, was conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Western Pará, Santarém, PA, Brazil, over a 40-day observation period. Both Absolute Growth Rates (AGR) and Relative Growth Rates (RGR) were assessed across the two water regimes. Biochemical parameters included readings of leaf pigments and the quantification of Total Soluble Sugar (TSS) and Non-reducing Sugar (N-red) contents. The results showed that RGR was significantly higher in plants inoculated with AMF, with increases of approximately 150% and 33% during the first and second analysis periods, respectively. AGR was also nearly double in AMF-treated plants. Additionally, the nitrogen balance, chlorophyll, flavonoid, and anthocyanin levels were, on average, 20% higher in AMF-treated plants compared to plants without AMF. Furthermore, TSS and N-red levels in the leaves were influenced by AMF inoculation, with the highest levels observed primarily during the initial growth phase under periodic irrigation.
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