The influence of mycorrhization on the growth of Zea mays L. and the sclerification of foliar tissues susceptible to chewing insect attacks

• Published in: Revista brasileira de botânica Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 493 - 502
• Main Authors: Damin, Silvana, Carrenho, Rosilaine, Martins, Shirley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.09.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: aerial parts; Arbuscular mycorrhizas; Biochemistry & Physiology - Original Article; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Botany; Cartridges; Chewing; Colonization; Corn; developmental stages; Evaluation; Filtrate; filtrates; Fungi; greenhouses; height; Insects; Leaves; Life Sciences; mass; mycorrhizae; mycorrhizal fungi; organogenesis; Pest control; Pests; phytomass; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Plant tissues; Propagules; roots; sand; soil; Soils; tissues; Zea mays; Corn; Anti-herbivory response; Lignification; Arbuscular mycorrhiza
• DOI: 10.1007/s40415-020-00621-8
• ISSN: 0100-8404

The interrelationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants have been the subject of numerous studies; however, whether these mutualistic associations are capable of producing structural defenses in plants for pest control remains to be determined. The present study evaluated the influence of AMF on the sclerification of foliar tissues of corn and related it to insect attack. Corn plants were grown in 5.5-L pots containing soil/sand (sterile, fertilized, pH corrected) in a greenhouse. Mycorrhized plants received propagules of native AMF; non-mycorrhized plants received soil filtrate of AMF-free soil. Some of the plants of both treatments were collected at 40 days post-emergence, while others were collected at 50 days and 60 days. Height and dry mass of the aerial part and dry mass of radicular part were evaluated. The median region of leaves of the fourth (basal) and seventh (cartridge) leaf nodes was transversally sectioned, and the sections stained, mounted in semi-permanent medium and analyzed under a microscope to measure variables related to tissue organization and sclerification. Mycorrhized plants had greater height and aerial-part dry mass. Mycorrhization influenced nine of the 15 anatomical variables analyzed with increased lignified tissue in at least one of the growth stages. It can be concluded that colonization of corn roots by AMF promotes sclerification of leaf tissues and, thus, may interfere indirectly with the plant–pest relationship by altering the quality of phytomass available for insects.