Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Tolerance of Temperature Stress in Plants

• Published in: Arbuscular Mycorrhizas and Stress Tolerance of Plants pp. 163 - 194
• Main Authors: Zhu, Xiancan, Song, Fengbin, Liu, Fulai
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore Pte. Limited 2017; Springer Singapore
• Subjects: Botany & plant sciences; Microbiology (non-medical); Mycorrhiza; Plasma membrane permeability; Secondary metabolism; Soil science, sedimentology; Temperature
• ISBN: 9811041148; 9789811041143
• DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-4115-0_8

Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that determine the growth and productivity of plants across the globe. Many physiological and biochemical processes and functions are affected by low and high temperature stresses. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has been shown to improve tolerance to temperature stress in plants. This chapter addresses the effect of AM symbiosis on plant growth and biomass production, water relations (water potential, stomatal conductance, and aquaporins), photosynthesis (photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll, and chlorophyll fluorescence), plasma membrane permeability (malondialdehyde and ATPase), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, osmotic adjustment, carbohydrate metabolism, nutrient acquisition, and secondary metabolism under low or high temperature stress. The possible mechanisms of AM symbiosis improving temperature stress tolerance of the host plants via enhancing water and nutrient uptake, improving photosynthetic capacity and efficiency, protecting plant against oxidative damage, and increasing accumulation of osmolytes are discussed. This chapter also provides some future perspectives for better understanding the mechanisms of AM plant tolerance against temperature stress.