Improvement of Photosynthetic Pigment Characteristics, Mineral Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus and Seaweed Extract Foliar Application

Abstract

Beneficial plant–microbe interaction for enhancing crop yield and quality is a sustainable way to achieve eco-friendly, desirable agricultural productions. The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate the individual and combined effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) strain (Funneliformis mosseae) and a seaweed extract (SWE) derived from Ascophyllum nodosum, on the growth and physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Lettuce plants were inoculated with commercial AMF inoculum (5 g kg−1 soil), and SWE foliar application was done at three levels (0.5, 1.5, and 3 g L−1). The findings revealed that AMF along with SWE generated the greatest impact. In fact, co-application of AMF inoculation and 3 g L−1 SWE considerably enhanced root colonization, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and mineral content in the shoots and roots (N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Mn content) of lettuce plants. This combination improved initial fluorescence (F0), photochemical efficiency of PSII (FV/Fm) and Y(NO) and total antioxidant activity (TAA), whereas the maximum fluorescence, (Fm) and Y(II), showed the highest increase in lettuce plants treated with AMF and 1.5 g L−1 SWE. Furthermore, AMF inoculation along with SWE, at concentrations 1.5 and 3 g L−1, considerably enhanced variable fluorescence (FV) and the activity of water decomposition in electron donor photosystem II (FV/F0). As a result of these findings, it can be stated that the co-application of AMF and SWE positively improves the growth and development of lettuce plants.

Seaweed extract and arbuscular mycorrhiza co-application affect the growth responses and essential oil composition of Foeniculum vulgare L.

“…High total soluble carbohydrates content in the leaves inevitably improves the nitrate assimilation pathway 52 . The enhancement of carbohydrates concentration in AMF-treated plants may be described by the enhanced carbon fixation and the activation of several enzymes 32 . Finally, AMF inoculation improved the net photosynthetic potential as well as the carbohydrate content in Zenia plants 53 .…”

“…In the peppermint plant, AMF treatment improved the root colonization, growth, essential oil yield, and nutrient acquisition of the plant 30 . In addition, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus increases the efficiency of photosynthesis in the host plant, and it has been reported that the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the lettuce plants were significantly affected by the SWE and AMF co-treatments 31 , 32 . Also, in coriander, in addition to the positive effects on biomass performance and root colonization; AMF significantly increased the alpha-pinene content compared to control plants 33 .…”

Effect of Bio-Fertilizer Application on Agronomic Traits, Yield, and Nutrient Uptake of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) in Saline Soil

“…The growth of plants under environmental stresses leads to oxidative stress, causing a pathological condition. Numerous studies have confirmed the existence of a strong relationship between the number of microbes and the total antioxidant capacity in the soil and different soil types [92,93].…”

Different photoprotective strategies for white leaves between two co‐occurring Actinidia species

“…The chlorophyll and carotenoid content of non-green leaves in A. kolomikta and A. polygama was chemically determined by the method of Asadi et al (2022). Chlorophyll was extracted with ice-cold acetone/tetrahydrofuran (1:1, v/v) and filtered through a 0.22 μm membrane filter.…”