Journal of Plant Process and Function

In order to evaluate the symbiotic effects of mycorrhiza-like fungi, Piriformospora indica (Pi), and mycorrhiza fungi, Glomus mosseae (Gm), on improving the chlorophyll pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence indices of maize (Zea mays L. cv. 'SC 704') under different levels of irrigation and triple super phosphate (TSP), a field experiment was conducted in a split factorial arrengment based on a randomized complete block design with three resplications. Two regions, Gharakhil (Ghaemshahr) and Bayekola (Neka) were investigated during the growing season of maize in 2015. Three different regimes of irrigation (100, 75 and 50% of crop water requirement) were used as the main plot, four levels of inoculations (control, Pi, Gm and Pi+Gm inoculations) and three levels of TSP (control, 50 and 100% of crop requirement) served as the subplots. The results indiacted that the amount of chlorophyll a, b, a+b and photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were significantly declined by limited irrigation regimes in both stations. The results also indicate a positive effect of fungi inoculation on Fv/Fm ratio resulted in significant increase of maximum fluorescence (Fm), particularly when maize seeds were inoculated with Pi and Gm together. Although, quantum yield of regulated non-photochemical (Y(NPQ)) increased by limited irrigation regimes, it appears that this parameter was significantly decreased by fungi inoculation treatments. This reduction was varied from 22% for Gharakhil to 33% for Bayekola, when applied Pi and Gm inoculation together. In general, the results indicated that these fungi could decrease the negative effects of water deficit stress on leaf chlorophyll pigments content and photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II by reducing damage to reaction centers of photosystem II. .