Abstract: In a tissue culture experiment, this paper studied the effects of inoculating three species endophytic fungi on the growth and essential oil composition of Atractylodes lancea. After four weeks culture, inoculation of AL3 (Sclerotium sp.) increased the average root number and dry mass per host plant by 927% and 629% (P<001), respectively, while inoculation of AL4 (Cunninghamella sp.) and AL12 (Gilmaniella sp.) had less effect on host plant growth, compared with the control. Inoculating AL3, AL4, and AL12 increased the leaf PAL activity of A. lancea by 58, 80, and 111 times, respectively (P<001). The leaf POD, CAT and SOD activities were at the same levels as the control in treatment AL3, decreased by 91%, 371%, and 97% in treatment AL4, and increased by 104%, 212%, and 96% in treatment AL12, respectively. Inoculating AL3, AL4, and AL12 increased the total polyphenol content of A. lancea by 17977%, 8619%, and 8408%, respectively, and changed the relative percentage of four important components (atractylone, hinesol, β-eudesmol, and atractylodin) in essential oil.

Key words: Calcium, Plant, Soil fertility, Stress, Stress tolerance