Variations in proline, soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzymes of soybean in response to different irrigation regimes and mycorrhiza treatments

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant production and Genetic, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

2 Department of Plant production and Genetic, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22124/jms.2026.9715

Abstract

Drought stress severely disrupts osmotic balance and oxidative stability in soybean; however, the species-specific role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in regulating these processes under different irrigation regimes has not been fully clarified. This study was conducted in 2024 as a 3 × 3 factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Experimental treatments included three irrigation regimes (100% field capacity as the control, 80% field capacity as moderate drought stress, and 50% field capacity as severe drought stress) and three mycorrhizal treatments (non‑inoculated control, Funneliformis mosseae, and Rhizophagus intraradices). The effects of these treatments on proline, soluble sugars and relative water content (RWC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzyme activity in soybean seedlings were evaluated.
Reducing irrigation to 80% and 50% of field capacity significantly decreased RWC and increased osmolyte accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Inoculation with AMF mitigated these stress responses, and Rhizophagus intraradices showed the most pronounced effect in improving plant water status, regulating osmotic adjustment, and reducing oxidative damage, particularly under moderate and severe drought conditions. These results indicate that AMF, especially Rhizophagus intraradices, contribute to enhanced drought tolerance in soybean through improved water status, increased osmolyte accumulation, and reduced oxidative damage. Overall, the findings provide evidence of the superior performance of Rhizophagus intraradices in alleviating drought stress in soybean.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Seed Sciences and Research
Volume 12, Issue 4
March 2026
Pages 61-75

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