Endophytic Fungi Controls the Physicochemical Status of Maize Crop under Salt Stress

Salt stress is one of the abiotic stresses which negatively affects the growth and yield of different plants world-wide. The purpose of the present investigation was to analyze the physiological and biochemical parameters of maize plants exposed to salt stress with or without fungal association. The results indicated that salinity negatively affected the growth attributes, biochemical parameters and ionic status in maize. In contrast, WSQ association has improved the growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, IAA and metabolites, N, P, Ca, K and Mg concentrations in maize. Moreover, WSQ association reduced lipid-peroxidation, Na, Cl, Na/K and Ca/K ratio in maize during salinity stress. The results of the present study concluded that the endophyticfungal strain WSQ can serve as a good strategic-tool to improve maize growth under salt-stress.