Investigation of dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Azar 2) plants response to symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza and mycorrhiza like fungi under different levels of drought stress

In order to evaluate arbuscular mycorrhiza (Glomuss mossea) and mycorrhiza-like (Piriformospora indica) effects on yield, yield components and some morphological (cv. Azar 2) traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under water deficit stress, a pot experiment was conducted as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications. Treatments were drought stress at three levels (FC, -5 and -10 bar) and fungi inoculation at four levels (mycorrhiza (AM), mycorrhiza-like (MLF) and co-inoculation of AM+MLF and control). Results showed that the water stress significantly decreased 1000-grain weight, spike harvest index, fertility percent of spike, plant height, peduncle and extrusion length and colonization percent while grain density per spike markedly increased. Fungi inoculation significantly improved all studied traits except harvest index, 1000-grain weight and root colonization. Co-inoculation of AM and MLF had the best performance in terms of all mentioned parameters. Interaction effects of fungi and water stress was significant on grain and biological yield, spike and grain number and positively affected by fungi inoculation. Among fungi treatments, however, co-inoculation of AM+MLF had the best performance and recommended for both stress and non stress conditions.