Soil salinity limits wheat growth, but several fungal species can promote the productivity under saline conditions. This study investigated how Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and Penicillium funiculosum and Fusarium oxysporum (PFFO) affected wheat growth under saline conditions.

Wheat, inoculated with AMF, or PFFO, or with AMF and PFFO, was stressed with 75, or 150 mM NaCl in the soil. AMF colonization, grain yield, shoot and root dry weights, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl), relative permeability, chlorophyll and proline contents and root malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined.

Salinity limited the grain yield, and reduced N, P and K uptake and chlorophyll content. As soil salinity increased, shoot Na and Cl contents, relative permeability and proline content, and MDA increased. PFFO enhanced root colonization with AMF, N and P uptake and AMF significantly increased N, P and K uptake and chlorophyll content and decreased proline, Na, Cl and MDA contents. Compared to AMF, or PFFO, dual inoculation with AMF and PFFO decreased shoot Na and Cl uptake, increased chlorophyll, shoot N and P contents and K/Na ratio and resulted in approximately 25, 35 and 43% higher grain yield at 0, 75 and 150 mM NaCl, respectively.

Data showed that Penicillium funiculosum and Fusarium oxysporum promoted AMF symbiotic effects and alleviated the deleterious effects of NaCl salts on wheat growth