Plant-microbe interactions before drought influence plant physiological responses to subsequent severe drought.

ABSTRACT: We examined the effect of soil microbial communities on plant physiological responses to drought. Bouteloua gracilis seeds were planted in sterilized sand with (inoculated) and without (controls) soil microbial communities. After substantial growth, drought was imposed by completely withholding water. Before soil moisture declined to zero, inoculated plants germinated faster, were significantly taller, and maintained greater soil moisture than controls. The greater soil moisture of the inoculated plants allowed greater photosynthesis but also induced lower tissue drought tolerance (as indicated by turgor loss point) compared to controls. The inoculated plants were more susceptible to severe drought compared to control plants as indicated by significantly lower mean stomatal conductance, as

SUBMITTER: Ulrich DEM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6342978 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature