Seed fungi help corn thrive in salty soil
Rahman KU, Rauf M, Din JU, Khan S, Rauf S
Crop Improvement
If you've ever watched a plant struggle in salty coastal or over-fertilized soil, this points to a living, natural fix: fungi already present in some seeds can coach crops like corn through that stress instead of leaving them stunted.
Researchers took two fungi that naturally live inside moringa tree seeds and gave them to corn plants growing in very salty soil. The corn with fungal partners grew bigger, kept its nutrients balanced, and suffered far less damage than corn left to cope alone. It's a hint that some of the quiet fungal tenants inside seeds and roots could become a natural tool for farming in increasingly salty land.
Key Findings
200 mM NaCl salt stress significantly reduced maize growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and key hormones (IAA, gibberellic acid) while increasing oxidative damage markers (MDA, H2O2).
Inoculation with endophytic fungi Aspergillus niger (MA2) and Aspergillus oryzae (MA5) restored growth, pigments, and hormone balance, and reduced MDA compared to non-inoculated salt-stressed plants.
Fungal treatment restored ionic homeostasis by lowering Na+/Cl- uptake and increasing K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, N, and P, improving the critical Na+/K+ and Na+/Ca2+ ratios for salt tolerance.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists found that two common fungi living naturally inside moringa seeds can help corn plants survive salty soil, boosting growth and restoring nutrient balance even under heavy salt stress. This offers a low-cost, natural alternative to chemical treatments for farming in salt-affected land.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Endophytic Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae improve growth, antioxidant defense, and ion homeostasis in maize under salinity stress.
Salt stress limits maize productivity worldwide, and sustainable strategies are required for stress alleviation. The current study assessed the ability of endophytic fungi Aspergillus niger (MA2) a...
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