Abstract Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a thermophilic species susceptible to cold stress. The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for the amelioration of cold stress in this species has not been investigated so far. This study was conducted to examine some of the physiological functions through which the AMF colonization may improve cold stress tolerance in this species. Plants were inoculated with four AMF species (Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Diversispora versiformis), grown for three weeks under growth chamber conditions, and then treated with three different temperatures (25 °C, 15 °C, and 5 °C) for one week. Results showed that despite the reduction in root colonization, AMF were able to alleviate cold stress in the eggplants by improving photochemical reactions, activating antioxidant defense systems, accumulating protecting molecules, and reducing membrane damages. Cold stress mitigation through AMF was mediated by H2O2 as a priming molecule accumulated upon mycorrhization prior to cold stress. A comparison of four AMF species showed that D. versiformis was less effective than the other three fungal species in alleviating cold stress due to the inability to accumulate the protecting molecules, particularly proline and free phenolics. Our results revealed that AMF inoculation with suitable fungal species is an effective strategy for alleviating cold stress in eggplants.

中文翻译：

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丛枝菌根真菌的定植通过改善抗氧化防御和茄子中保护分子的积累来减轻冷应激

摘要 茄子（Solanum melongena L.）是一种易受冷胁迫影响的嗜热物种。到目前为止，尚未研究丛枝菌根真菌 (AMF) 改善该物种冷胁迫的潜力。进行这项研究是为了检查 AMF 定植可以提高该物种的冷应激耐受性的一些生理功能。将植物接种四种 AMF 物种（Funneliformis mosseae、Claroideoglomus etunicatum、Rhizophagus normis 和 Diversispora versiformis），在生长室条件下生长三周，然后用三种不同的温度（25 °C、15 °C 和 5 °C）处理C) 一个星期。结果表明，尽管根部定植减少，但 AMF 能够通过改善光化学反应来减轻茄子的冷应激，激活抗氧化防御系统，积累保护分子，并减少膜损伤。通过 AMF 缓解冷应激是由 H2O2 作为在冷应激之前菌根化过程中积累的引发分子介导的。四种 AMF 物种的比较表明，由于无法积累保护分子，尤其是脯氨酸和游离酚类物质，D. versiformis 在缓解冷应激方面的效果不如其他三种真菌。我们的结果表明，用合适的真菌物种接种 AMF 是减轻茄子冷应激的有效策略。四种 AMF 物种的比较表明，由于无法积累保护分子，尤其是脯氨酸和游离酚类物质，D. versiformis 在缓解冷应激方面的效果不如其他三种真菌。我们的结果表明，用合适的真菌物种接种 AMF 是减轻茄子冷应激的有效策略。四种 AMF 物种的比较表明，由于无法积累保护分子，尤其是脯氨酸和游离酚类物质，D. versiformis 在缓解冷应激方面的效果不如其他三种真菌。我们的结果表明，用合适的真菌物种接种 AMF 是减轻茄子冷应激的有效策略。