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.