Unveiling novel contrasting photosynthetic responses in medicago truncatula under combined drought stress and phoma medicaginis infection
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Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
Forage legumes face simultaneous abiotic and biotic stresses, causing substantial yield losses. This study explores the combined impacts of drought and Phoma medicaginis infection on the growth and photosynthetic activity of Medicago truncatula contrasting lines TN6.18 and F83005.5. The tolerant TN6.18 line exhibits superior tolerance to combined drought and P. medicaginis infection, manifesting in minimal leaf area reduction, the highest number of healthy leaves, increased carotenoids content, a consistently high and stable photosynthesis rate, and enhanced performance of photosystems PSI and PSII. On the contrary, the sensitive F83005.5 line shows pronounced leaf chlorosis, particularly under drought stress, and decreased pigment levels under the combination of drought and P. medicaginis infection stresses (combined stress). Moreover, the drought-stressed F83005.5, experiences reduced hydration and photosynthetic performance, linked to diminished gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Chlorophyll fluorescence revealed more severe PSI impairment than PSII under combined stress. In conclusion, understanding the Pm8 infection-drought interaction enhances insights into M. truncatula resistance mechanisms to the combination of these stresses.
Description
Keywords
Gaz exchanges, chlorophyll contents, fungal attack alleviation, photosystem I and II, tolerance mechanisms
Citation
Maiza, N., Mnafgui, W., Jabri, C., Zribi, F., Zorrig, W., Ludidi, N., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T. and Badri, M., 2024. Unveiling novel contrasting photosynthetic responses in Medicago truncatula under combined drought stress and Phoma medicaginis infection. Plant Biosystems-An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 158(5), pp.1093-1104.