Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM) symbiosis can protect host plant against detrimental effects caused by drought stress. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the effect of VAM on the Zea mays L. grown under water stress conditions. The effects of both water stress and VAM on lipid peroxidation, nucleic acids content, soluble protein content, gene expression, antioxidant enzymes activities and isozymes (Peroxidase and Polyphenoloxidase) variations were investigated. The contents of leaves soluble protein and nucleic acids were higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal plants, while lipid peroxidation recorded lower values in root and leaf. From the electrophoretic analysis, the treatments showed alterations in the leaf storage protein patterns. The activity of catalase, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase was significantly increased in the VAM maize plants through the drought. A reliable change on the expression levels of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase was observed, that directly correlates with the emerging and intensity of protein bands on SDS-PAGE. The use of VAM appears to be a suitable practice to improve the crop performances under low water availability.
Key words: Drought, Maize, VAM, Leaf protein electrophoresis, Lipid peroxidation, Isozyme, Antioxidant enzymes.
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