Inoculation with Clariodeoglomus etunicatum improves leaf food quality of tea exposed to P stress

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Clariodeoglomus etunicatum, on leaf food quality and relevant gene expression levels tea (Camellia sinensis cv. ‘Fuding Dabaicha’) seedlings exposed 0.5 μM P (P0.5) 50 (P50) levels. Twenty-four weeks later, recorded higher root fungal colonization in P50 than P0.5. AMF-inoculated plants represented significantly fructose glucose contents lower sucrose content non-inoculated plants, irrespective substate AMF treatment also increased total amino acids P0.5 P50, accompanied with glutamate dehydrogenase (CsGDH) glutamine synthetase (CsGS) oxoglutarate aminotransferase (CsGOGAT). flavonoid was versus non-mycorrhizal under together induced phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (CsPAL) cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (CsC4H). Mycorrhizal inoculation improved catechins content, which is due up-regulated flavanone 3-hydroxylase (CsF3H), 3'-hydroxylase (CsF3'H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (CsDFR), leucoanthocyanidin reductase (CsLAR), anthocyanidin (CsANR), chalcone isomerase (CsCHI) However, involved synthesis not affected or down-regulated by mycorrhization, implying a complex mechanism (e.g. nutrient improvement). inhibited caffeine synthase 1 (CsTCS1) regardless Therefore, results this concluded that C. etunicatum improves stress, but mechanisms were different between P50.