Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on the Metabolic Activity of Solanum tuberosum Plants Under Fungicide Application

Physiological and Enzymatic Antioxidant Responses of Solanum tuberosum Leaves to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation under Water Stress

“…Responses to water limitation have varied depending on the type of plant studied, with increases and decreases observed in the concentrations of these photosynthetic pigments [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Specifically, in comparing the results reported here, considering or not considering AMF inoculation in addition to water starvation, with the results previously reported by Cayún et al [ 18 ], who studied the same potato genotypes but without the application of drought, higher concentrations of total chlorophyll were found for all treatments. Moreover, regarding water stress and inoculation with AMF, in trifoliate orange plants, AMF significantly increased the contents of photosynthetic pigments when water stress was applied to the soil compared to non-inoculated plants [ 44 ].…”

“…Moreover, for the two potato genotypes used here, the CC strain had a great influence on the CB2011-104 genotype, but the HMC26 strain also had an influence, although to a lesser extent and with different experimental variables than the CC strain. Previously, Cayún et al [ 18 ], working with the same genotypes used here under AMF inoculation but without the influence of water stress, reported no clear correlations that allowed them to establish the effect of the strains used on the characteristics measured. In other studies, it has been shown that there is no single AMF strain that positively influences all the different varieties but consistently improves some desirable characteristics, suggesting that the best AMF–plant host combination should be analysed and identified [ 60 , 61 ].…”

“…Improved photosynthetic behaviour is directly associated with increased crop yields [ 27 ]; however, abiotic stresses such as drought limit the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus by damaging the thylakoid membrane, reducing the contents of photosynthetic pigments, and negatively affecting the function of PSII by reducing the quantum yield [ 28 ]. In a previous study in which the effects of fungicides without water deficit were evaluated on the same genotypes analysed here, there were no differences in ΦPSII between genotypes [ 18 ]; furthermore, water deficit in other potato genotypes has not shown a noticeable influence on this trait [ 29 ]. The symbiotic association generated by AMF regulates various processes in plants, such as stomatal aperture through abscisic acid metabolism, improving gas exchange, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and improving root efficiency under water stress conditions [ 30 ].…”

“…In addition, Fritz et al [ 17 ] reported that inoculating potato crops with AMF has a beneficial effect on secondary metabolism, as indicated by increases in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Moreover, Cayún et al [ 18 ] reported similarities between potato plants inoculated with AMF and control plants with respect to the photosynthetic rate and an increase in the concentration of chlorophyll in AMF-inoculated samples. AMF inoculation reportedly increases enzymatic antioxidant activity in corn, olive, and potato leaves and roots [ 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

“…AMF inoculation reportedly increases enzymatic antioxidant activity in corn, olive, and potato leaves and roots [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. AMF root colonisation also causes changes in root exudates, increasing the contents of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) secreted by maize and potato plants [ 18 , 22 ]. Nevertheless, little is known about the effect of AMF inoculation on the metabolism of potato plants affected by drought.…”