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Journal Article Epublish 2 citations

PubMed: 39953402 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-025-06196-4

Exploring the benefits of AMF colonization for improving wheat growth, physiology and metabolism, and antimicrobial activity under biotic stress from aphid infection.

BMC Plant Biol 25(1):198

Authors: Hana Sonbol, Shereen Magdy Korany, Mousa Nhs, Insaf Abdi, Maria Gabriela MaridueƱa-Zavala, Emad A Alsherif, Danyah A Aldailami, Salma Yousif Sidahmed Elsheikh

Affiliations

  • Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
  • Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Cairo, 71515, Egypt.
  • Department of Basic Sciences, Deanship of Preparatory Year and Supporting Studies, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 4030, Jubail, 35816, Saudi Arabia.
  • Centro de Investigaciones BiotecnolĆ³gicas del Ecuador (CIBE), Escuela Superior PolitĆ©cnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km. 30.5 VĆ­a Perimetral, Guayaquil, 090902, Ecuador.
  • Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt.
  • Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, 23442, Saudi Arabia.
  • College of Science, Arar, Department of Biological Science, Northern Border University, Arar, 25698, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

This study examines the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Rhizophagus irregularis) as a bioprotection strategy to improve wheat's physiological and biochemical responses. This study utilized soil inoculation with AMF and plant-controlled infestation with aphids, conducted over four weeks with three replicates per treatment.

RESULTS

Although aphid infestation reduced root colonization by 26.8% and hyphal length by 30.7%, with no effect on arbuscular numbers (pā€‰<ā€‰0.05), AMF treatment improved growth, physiology, and metabolism of AMF-treated plants, especially under aphid infestation. AMF-treated plants showed a 51% increase in fresh weight and a 38% improvement in photosynthetic rates under infestation, indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency compared to controls. At the metabolism level, AMF application, particularly in infested plants, increased the levels of several amino acids, such as asparagine and glutamine, which increased by 23% and 20%, respectively. AMF treatment significantly boosted nitrogen metabolism enzymes, with activity increasing up to 4.8-fold in infested plants and arginase activity rising by 49% in infested and 290% in non-infested conditions. This metabolic shift elevated antioxidant levels, increasing flavonoids by 40% and polyphenols by 95% under aphid infestation. Additionally, antimicrobial efficacy improved, with AMF-treated plant extracts showing 30-67% larger inhibition zones against pathogens like Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhimurium than untreated plants (pā€‰<ā€‰0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This research examined the potential of AMF as a sustainable pest management tool, specifically focusing on its ability to enhance crop health and boost defenses against biotic stress. The study further highlights how AMF treatment improves antimicrobial efficacy, which can be integrated into farming practices to maintain plant growth while offering distinct advantages over conventional pest management strategies.

MeSH

Pest Control, Physiology, Growth, Stress, Physiological, Therapeutics, Botany, Infections

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