Halophytes have different ecophysiological and fungal root colonization traits in two saline soil conditions

Halophytes are considered a model for understanding plant salt-stress tolerance mechanisms because of their high interspecific biodiversity. However, little evidence shows how two cosmopolitan fungal root endorhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE), influence these plants under salinity soil conditions. Hence, the ecophysiological response of six halophytes under two natural field salinity conditions and their relation with AMF and DSE were studied to increase the knowledge on their differences in plant salinity tolerance. The study was performed in the Colegio de Postgraduados research area in the former Lake Texcoco, Mexico. Under two salinity field conditions, ecophysiological responses regarding soil, foliar, root variables, and fungal root colonization were evaluated in six halophytes. This is the first report of simultaneous root colonization by these endorhizal fungi. Halophytes displayed different ecophysiological responses, and there was a plant-fungi relationship. S . torreyana was directly associated with colonization by DSE, foliar relative water content, and leaf succulence index. D . spicata and C . dactylon were linked to AMF colonization, proline concentration, and photosynthetic pigments. E . obtusiflora and B . s alicifolia plants related to total root-glomalin related proteins (TR-GRP). Total-glomalin related soil proteins (T-GRSP) were lower with higher soil EC, but TR-GRP behaved contrarily. This study suggests, for the first time, the participation of TR-GRP in saline soils. Both types of GRP were related to soil calcium concentration and appear to be implicated in soil structure and stability, which suggests future research to increase evidence of the role of AMF in halophytes in saline soils.