The influence of piri fungus (Priformospora indica) on vegetative growth and the content of caffeic acid of leaves of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) plant

Priformospora indica or Piri is an endophytic mycorrhiza in which its growth stimulation effect on host plant by increasing adventitious roots has been reported. The effect of Piri on medicinal plant and secondary metabolite accumulation has been less studied. Present study was performed in growth chamber conditions (light density 2500 lux, 16 day length and 25 ^°C) as a completely randomized design with contaminated and non-contaminated plants and four replications. The number of adventitious roots of contaminated plants strongly was higher than that of non contaminated plants. The results also showed that the leaves width of contaminated plants was significantly higher than that of non-contaminated plants. Although the content of Cafeic acid of contaminated plants was higher than that of
non-contaminated, but the difference was not significant. According the short period of experiment, it seems that the formation of most of polyphenolic compounds did not complete or the amount was not detectable. Thus repeating present study in field conditions could help the better understanding the relationship of fungus and plant, especially on secondary metabolite accumulation.