Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis: an effective solution to improve salt tolerance in white Poplar (Populus alba)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/jfwp.2026.402849.1373

Abstract

Poplars (Populus spp.) are important tree species in poplar plantations and agroforestry programs due to their fast growth, high biomass production, and ecological adaptability. Mycorrhizal fungi, on the other hand, directly and indirectly enhance plant growth by improving resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal pollution, as well as biotic stresses such as pests and diseases. Therefore, in the context of climate change and the increasing salinization of water and land resources, the production of stress-resistant seedlings using ectomycorrhizal fungi is essential. In this study, the potential for establishing symbiosis between the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor and poplar seedlings under greenhouse conditions was investigated by inoculating a fungal substrate into poplar pots. After a growth period, the morphophysiological (growth parameters and biomass production) and biochemical (major nutrient elements) characteristics of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal one-year-old poplar seedlings under salt stress conditions were evaluated. Overall, the results demonstrated that L. bicolor is a suitable ectomycorrhizal fungus for forming a symbiosis compatible with the ecological characteristics of poplar trees and for enhancing nutrient availability for plant growth. Statistical analyses showed that ectomycorrhizal treatment had significant effects on growth variables (stem length), biomass production (root and shoot dry biomass), and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in poplar seedlings. In addition, under salt stress conditions, mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited significantly higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthesis, and transpiration compared to non-mycorrhizal seedlings.

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