Interactions of Epichloë endophyte and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on wild barley under salt stress

The mutualistic system involving grasses, endophytic fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been extensively studied. Several studies have focused on the effects of Epichlo & euml; endophytic fungi on AMF colonization and the impact of their simultaneous symbiosis on the host under different nutritional conditions, while environmental factors, such as salt stress, have received less attention. This study, using wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) as the experimental material, investigated the effects of simultaneous symbiosis between Epichlo & euml; bromicola fungi and three different AMF treatments on the growth, nutrient absorption, and biomass (aboveground and belowground) allocation of wild barley under salt stress. Moreover, the nutrient and biomass changes of the salt effects were explored in these two types of fungi on wild barley during different stages of symbiosis establishment. Under high salt stress, AMF colonization inhibited the growth of wild barley. E. bromicola and Glomus claroideum (GC) mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of wild barley are independent. In E. bromicola-infected (E+) plants, colonization by Glomus mossease (GM) and G. claroideum + G. mossease (Gmix) mycorrhizal fungi led to growth parameters reductions, indicating an antagonistic interaction between E. bromicola and G. mossease.