Alleviation of waterlogged stress in peach seedlings inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae: Changes in chlorophyll and proline metabolism

- Peach plants are highly susceptible to soil waterlogging.
- This study was made to evaluate AM effects on waterlogging stress in peach.
- AMs markedly increased chlorophyll a, b, and a + b concentration under waterlogging.
- AM plants had higher proline level and P5CS activity but lower δ-OAT and ProDH activity.

Peach plants are highly susceptible to soil waterlogging, which can strongly inhibit plant growth and fruit production, and even cause tree death. A pot study was conducted to investigate the effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae, on chlorophyll concentration, proline concentration, and activity of proline metabolic enzymes (Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase, P5CS; orn-δ-aminotransferase, δ-OAT; and proline dehydrogenase, ProDH) in leaves of peach [Prunes persica (L.) Batsch] seedlings under soil waterlogged and non-waterlogged conditions. After 12 days of waterlogged treatment, root mycorrhizal colonization and entry points were significantly decreased. Inoculation with F. mosseae significantly increased chlorophyll a, b, and a + b concentrations under waterlogged and non-waterlogged conditions, as compared with non-AMF inoculation. AMF inoculation led to more proline accumulation in leaves, accompanied an increase of P5CS activity and a decrease of δ-OAT and ProDH activity under waterlogged and non-waterlogged conditions. It was concluded that F. mosseae conferred a positive contribution to waterlogged tolerance of the peach plant through promotion of proline and chlorophyll biosysthesis.