Effects of SiO 2 nanoparticles and Piriformospora indica on tomato (Lycopersicone sculentum) under water stress in aeroponic system

Abstract

Abstract In this research,three levels of fungi; non-inoculated, spore, and myceliuminoculated plants, and three levels of nanoSiO2;0,50 and 100 mM, were studied under non-water stress andwater stress conditions. Analysis of variance and mean comparisons indicated that application of both nanoSiO2 and P. indica had positive effects in inducing drought tolerance in tomato regarding morphological (root and shoot properties), biochemical (protein, anthocyanin, phenol), physiological (proline, chlorophyll a and b), tolerance indices (relative water content and electrolyte leakage), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPX and APX) traits.Comparison of two trials under water stress, showed that the mycelium form of P. indica was better than the spore form and it was better than100 mMnano SiO2 in CAT enhancing while only the spore form of fungiwas better than100 mMnano SiO2in chlorophyll-b.Under water stress, application of the 100 mMnano SiO2 could produce more root volume and dry weight than any fungi treatments. Our results indicated the positive impacts of P. indica and SiO2 nanoparticles on drought tolerance in tomato but the P. indica was more efficient than SiO2 nanoparticles in most traits, which could be related to better symbiosis of fungi with roots.