Improvement of the yield‐related response of mycorrhized Lallemantia iberica to salinity through sulfur‐oxidizing bacteria

Abstract BACKGROUND To investigate the effects of salinity as a serious environmental limiter of productivity on the yield‐related traits of Lallemantia iberica , a split‐plot experiment was performed for 2 years (2017–2018) based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Urmia University (37°33′09″N, 45°05′53″E). The main plots included salinity stress at two levels (6.72 dS m −1 , and 0.91 dS m −1 as control), and subplots were inoculants at four levels ( Funneliformis mosseae , Thiobacillus sp., F. mosseae + Thiobacillus sp., and no inoculation). RESULTS In the saline condition, serious reductions in yield and yield components (numbers of capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, and seeds per plant, 1000‐seed weight, seed and biological yields), concentrations of leaf phosphorus and potassium, and relative mycorrhizal dependency were observed, but against the harvest index the leaf sulfur and sodium contents were increased. Moreover, all morphological traits (plant height, number of branches and leaves, leaf weight, stem weight, and ratio of leaf weight to stem weight) were decreased under salinity conditions. Mycorrhizal inoculation enhanced the salinity‐induced reduction of yield and morphological traits to some extent. Inoculation with Thiobacillus had superiority in some of the yield and morphological characteristics compared with those in the non‐inoculated plants. CONCLUSION Salinity stress can significantly affect the yield, morphological characteristics, nutrients content, and mycorrhizal dependency of L. iberica plants. This study exhibited the significant effects of single and simultaneous applications of F. mosseae and Thiobacillus on plant growth and yield in saline soils. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry