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Description
In arid and semi-arid areas, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), an indispensable tree, plays an important socio-economic role. However, in recent years, the whole world has experienced serious climate change, which negatively influences plant growth, physiology and production, especially through increased soil and water salinity. The present study was carried out to evaluate the response of date palm vitroplants to salinity and examine the possible roles of a native and exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF1 and AMF2, respectively), PGPR and compost in improving salt tolerance. Plants were grown under non-saline or saline conditions (0 and 300 mM NaCl) with and without application of the tested biostimulants alone or in dual or in triple combination. Plant growth parameters, including plant dry biomass, were negatively affected by salinity. However, biostimulants -treated plants showed higher growth parameters and a great stimulation of the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds such as total polyphenols and total flavonoids content under saline conditions compared to non-inoculated and non-amended plants. In addition, salt stress caused high lipid peroxidation and increased H2O2 content. However, the application of biostimulants reduced both parameters in salt-affected plants. The best reductions in stress markers (MDA and H2O2) 57% and 55%; 51% and 49% were recorded in plants treated respectively with PGPR+AMF1+Comp and PGPR+AMF2+Comp. Application of biostimulants and especially their combination as an efficient practice to improve growth and development of date palm.
