Nod factors and tri-iodobenzoic acid stimulate mycorrhizal colonization and affect carbohydrate partitioning in mycorrhizal roots of Lablab purpureus

Abstract

Roots of Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet were treated with tri-iodobenzoic acid (TIBA), kinetin or with nodulation factors (Nod factors) purified from Rhizobium sp. NGR234 and grown in the presence of a mycorrhizal inoculum (Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe. Colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus was increased from <30% to c. 65% of root length when roots were treated with these growth regulators. Moreover, treatment of mycorrhizal L. purpureus roots with Nod factors or TIBA strongly induced sporocarp formation of Glomus mosseae. In parallel, the pool size of the fungal disaccharide trehalose was significantly affected in roots treated with TIBA and Nod factors alone, and with TIBA combined with all effectors, and increased from 0·06 mg g⁻¹ d. wt in control roots to up to 1·7 mg g⁻¹ d. wt (TIBA+kinetin). Conversely, the sucrose pool decreased from 5% d. wt to less than a half in roots treated with Nod factors. Activities of trehalase were significantly enhanced in mycorrhizal roots by the treatment with Nod factors or TIBA. When Nod factors and TIBA were added in combination, these activities were strongly enhanced suggesting synergism between these growth regulators.