Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 334-344 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 338 4 Role of Mycorrhizal Associations in Seedling Adaptation 4.1 Symbiotic relationships betweenA. roxburghii and mycorrhizal fungi A. roxburghii often depends on helpful fungi to grow better and adapt after transplanting. Some common fungi that work well with its roots include Ceratobasidiumsp. AR2 and Epulorhiza sp. These fungi help the plant take in more nutrients and can also increase the amount of useful compounds like flavonoids (Li et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2020). These fungi don’t just live near the roots—they actually grow into the root tissues and form something called endotrophic mycorrhiza. This means the fungi and plant directly trade nutrients with each other. This close relationship helps the plant grow faster and become stronger. But not all fungi are helpful. Some don’t do much, and others can even be harmful. It depends on the type of fungus and the surrounding environment. Besides helping with nutrients, these fungi can also protect the plant from stress, like disease or bad weather (Zhang et al., 2020). When the fungi live in the roots, they can turn on certain plant genes that help the seedling deal with stress (Li et al., 2012; Ye et al., 2020). However, these benefits don’t happen automatically. Whether or not the fungi can grow well with the plant depends on things like the soil type and how stable the environment is. So even with the right fungi, good conditions are still needed for them to really help the seedlings. 4.2 Effects of mycorrhizae on nutrient uptake and stress resistance Mycorrhizal fungi help A. roxburghii take in more nutrients by making the root system more effective. They expand the area that roots can use to absorb important elements like phosphorus and nitrogen (Diagne et al., 2020; Khaliq et al., 2022). This is especially helpful when the soil is poor in nutrients. Still, the results can differ depending on the type of fungus and the growing conditions. That’s why it’s important to choose the right fungi and apply them properly for each situation. These fungi also help seedlings deal with stress from the environment, such as drought, salt, or extreme heat or cold. They do this in a few ways: they help the plant hold onto water, balance nutrients, and produce natural chemicals that protect against stress. These include antioxidants and hormones that support plant health. Mycorrhizae also protect against disease. They take up space on the roots, making it harder for harmful microbes to attach. They also help turn on the plant’s immune system. But this protection isn’t perfect. If the environment becomes too harsh or the fungi don’t fully connect with the roots, the plant can still get sick (Khaliq et al., 2022). 4.3 Application of mycorrhizal inoculation in transplantation success Giving A. roxburghii seedlings a boost with helpful fungi before transplanting can really make a difference. When seedlings are treated with fungi like Ceratobasidiumsp. AR2, they usually grow better. They tend to have more shoots, bigger root systems, and more overall weight (Zhang et al., 2020). This is especially helpful for tissue-cultured seedlings, which often have weak roots and struggle when moved outside the lab. These fungal inoculations don’t just help with growth. They also make the seedlings stronger and more able to handle the stress that comes with transplanting (Ye et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2020). The fungi help the plant take in more nutrients and deal with sudden changes in the environment. Still, this method doesn’t always work the same way. The results depend on which fungus is used, how it’s applied, and whether the plant and fungus are a good match. Conditions like soil type and weather also matter. Even so, adding helpful fungi to the transplant process is a smart way to improve survival rates and grow healthier A. roxburghii plants. 5 Physiological and Biochemical Adjustments During Acclimatization 5.1 Changes in photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll content As A. roxburghii seedlings get used to life outside the lab, their ability to do photosynthesis and their chlorophyll levels change. Light plays a big role in these changes. When seedlings are grown under a mix of red and blue LED lights, they often show better photosynthesis. That’s because these light colors help the plants make more
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