Physiological Alteration in Sunflower Plants ( L.) Exposed to High CO and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.

Sunflower plants ( L.) in a CO-enriched atmosphere (eCO) were used herein to examine the developmental and physiological effects of biofertilization with mycorrhizae (). The eCO environment stimulated colonization using mycorrhizal fungi, as compared to plants grown under ambient CO conditions (aCO). This colonization promotes plant growth due to an increased nutrient content (P, K, Mg, and B), which favors a greater synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. Biofertilized plants (M) under eCO conditions have a higher concentration of carbon compounds in their leaves, as compared to non-biofertilized eCO plants (NM). The biofertilization (M) of sunflowers with decreased the C/N ratio, as compared to the NM plants, decreasing the hydrogen peroxide content and increasing the antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and APX). These results suggest that sunflower symbiosis with improves the absorption of N, while also decreasing the plant's oxidative stress. It may be concluded that biofertilization with mycorrhizae () may potentially replace the chemical fertilization of sunflower plants ( L.), resulting in more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This information is essential to our understanding of the mechanisms influencing the C and N dynamic in future climate change scenarios, in which high CO levels are expected.