Synergistic Effects of Vitreous Amendment and Mycorrhizal Fungi on Durum Wheat Water Stress Tolerance

In dry areas, ensuring efficient nutrient uptake is a critical challenge for sustainable crop production under drought. This study examines the effects of controlled-release vitreous fertilizers (VF), enriched with essential minerals, and conventional fertilizers, applied alone or combined with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grown under greenhouse conditions subjected to two watering regimes: well-irrigated (WW, 75% of field capacity) and drought-stressed (DS, 25% of field capacity). Treatments were evaluated based on yield, physiology, biochemistry, and soil fertility. Results indicated that DS impaired physiological functions and biochemical metabolism, reducing wheat yields. However, integrating VF with AMF produced significant improvements. Under DS, the combined VF + AMF treatment increased dry shoot biomass by 46% and root biomass by 92% relative to the positive control (NPK). Yield parameters were enhanced as VF + AMF raised thousand-grain weight by 20%. Physiological performance improved with a 70% increase in stomatal conductance and a 2% boost in photosynthetic efficiency, while chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid contents rose by 64, 69, and 111%, respectively. Biochemical traits also improved, with total soluble sugars increasing by 68% and soluble proteins nearly fivefold under DS. Antioxidant enzyme activities were elevated, with polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and catalase rising by 51, 50, and 25%. Soil properties benefitted as VF + AMF enhanced available phosphorus by 25% and total organic carbon by nearly 1.5-fold. This research highlights VF and AMF integration as a viable, sustainable strategy for resilient agriculture.