Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter carbon metabolism and invertase genes expressions of Populus simonii × P. nigra under drought stress.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in regulating the allocation of carbon between source and sink tissues in plants and in regulating their stress responses by changing the sucrose biosynthesis, transportation, and catabolism in plants. Invertase, a key enzyme for plant development, participates in the response of plants to drought stress by regulating sucrose metabolism. However, the detailed mechanisms by which INV genes respond to drought stress in mycorrhizal plants remain unclear. This study examined the sugar content, enzyme activity, and expression profiles of INV genes of Populus simonii × P. nigra (PsnINVs) under two inoculation treatments (inoculation or non-inoculation) and two water conditions (well-watered or drought stress). Results showed that under drought stress, AMF up-regulated the expressions of PsnA/NINV1, PsnA/NINV2, PsnA/NINV3, and PsnA/NINV5 in leaves, which may be related to the enhancement of photosynthetic capacity. Additionally, AMF up-regulated the expressions of PsnA/NINV6, PsnA/NINV10, and PsnA/NINV12 in leaves, which may be related to enhancing osmotic regulation ability and drought tolerance.