Modulation of nutrient acquisition and polyamine pool in salt-stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Sids 1 and Giza 168, were grown under non-saline or saline conditions (4.7 and 9.4 dS m−1) with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation. Salt stress considerably decreased root colonization, plant productivity and N, P, K+, Fe, Zn and Cu concentrations, while it increased Na+ level, particularly in Giza 168. Mycorrhizal colonization significantly enhanced plant productivity and N, P, K+, Fe, Zn and Cu acquisition, while it diminished Na+ uptake, especially in Sids 1. Salinity increased putrescine level in Giza 168, however, values of spermidine and spermine increased in Sids 1 and decreased in Giza 168. Mycorrhization changed the polyamine balance under saline conditions, an increase in putrescine level associated with low contents of spermidine and spermine in Giza 168 was observed, while Sids 1 showed a decrease in putrescine and high increase in spermidine and spermine. Moreover, mycorrhizal inoculation significantly reduced the activities of diamine oxidase and polyamine oxidase in salt-stressed wheat plants. Modulation of nutrient acquisition and polyamine pool can be one of the mechanisms used by AMF to improve wheat adaptation to saline soils. This is the first report dealing with mycorrhization effect on diamine oxidase and polyamine oxidase activities under salt stress.