Effects of Rhizobium inoculation on Trifolium resupinatum antioxidant system under sulfur dioxide pollution

Introduction: Plant growth-stimulating rhizobacteria are beneficial bacteria that can cause resistance to various stresses in plants. One of these stresses is SO2 air pollution. SO2 is known as a strong damaging air pollutant that limits the growth of plants. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the effects of bacterial inoculation with native and standard Rhizobium on Persian clover root growth and antioxidants activity and capacity under air SO2 pollution. Materials and methods: In this study, 31 days plants (no-inoculated and inoculated with two strains of Rhizobium) exposed to the different concentrations of SO2 (0 as a control, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 ppm) for 5 consecutive days and 2 hours per day. Results: Results showed different concentrations of SO2 had a significant effect on Persian clover root weight and antioxidant system. Increasing SO2 stress decreased root fresh and dry weight and antioxidant capacities (IC50) and increased antioxidant activities (I%) of Persian clover leaves significantly in comparison to the control plants (under 0 ppm) and increased SOD, CAT and GPX activity. Inoculation of Persian clover plants with native and standard Rhizobium increased root weight and did not show a significant effect on antioxidants activity and capacity, but the interaction between Rhizobium inoculation and SO2 treatment reduced significantly the stress effects of high concentration of SO2 on root growth and antioxidants activity and capacity. In fact, the level of this change of root growth and antioxidant system under SO2 pollution stress in inoculated plants was lower than in the non-inoculated plants. Discussion and conclusion: As a result, an increase in SO2 concentration caused a decrease in root weight, an increase in antioxidants activity, and the capacity of Persian clover. Inoculation with Rhizobium strains could alleviate the effect of SO2 pollution on the antioxidant system by effects on root growth.Inoculation with Rhizobium strains could alleviate the effect of SO2 pollution on the antioxidant system by effects on root growt