1
|
Hareem M, Danish S, Pervez M, Irshad U, Fahad S, Dawar K, Alharbi SA, Ansari MJ, Datta R. Optimizing chili production in drought stress: combining Zn-quantum dot biochar and proline for improved growth and yield. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6627. [PMID: 38503869 PMCID: PMC10951368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57204-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The reduction in crop productivity due to drought stress, is a major concern in agriculture. Drought stress usually disrupts photosynthesis by triggering oxidative stress and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The use of zinc-quantum dot biochar (ZQDB) and proline (Pro) can be effective techniques to overcome this issue. Biochar has the potential to improve the water use efficiency while proline can play an imperative role in minimization of adverse impacts of ROS Proline, functioning as an osmotic protector, efficiently mitigates the adverse effects of heavy metals on plants by maintaining cellular structure, scavenging free radicals, and ensuring the stability of cellular integrity. That's why current study explored the impact of ZQDB and proline on chili growth under drought stress. Four treatments, i.e., control, 0.4%ZQDB, 0.1 mM Pro, and 0.4%ZQDB + Pro, were applied in 4 replications following the complete randomized design. Results exhibited that 0.4%ZQDB + Pro caused an increases in chili plant dry weight (29.28%), plant height (28.12%), fruit length (29.20%), fruit girth (59.81%), and fruit yield (55.78%) over control under drought stress. A significant increment in chlorophyll a (18.97%), chlorophyll b (49.02%), and total chlorophyll (26.67%), compared to control under drought stress, confirmed the effectiveness of 0.4%ZQDB + Pro. Furthermore, improvement in leaves N, P, and K concentration over control validated the efficacy of 0.4%ZQDB + Pro against drought stress. In conclusion, 0.4%ZQDB + Pro can mitigate drought stress in chili. More investigations are suggested to declare 0.4%ZQDB + Pro as promising amendment for mitigation of drought stress in other crops as well under changing climatic situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Misbah Hareem
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Woman University Multan, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Subhan Danish
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Mahnoor Pervez
- Department of Zoology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Usman Irshad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Shah Fahad
- Department of Agronomy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23200, Pakistan.
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
| | - Khadim Dawar
- Department of Soil and Environmental Science, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, PO Box -2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Javed Ansari
- Department of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University Bareilly), Moradabad, India
| | - Rahul Datta
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Younis U, Danish S, Datta R, Alahmadi TA, Ansari MJ. Sustainable remediation of chromium-contaminated soils: boosting radish growth with deashed biochar and strigolactone. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:115. [PMID: 38365582 PMCID: PMC10870680 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04791-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Chromium (Cr) stress significantly hinders crop production by disrupting nutrient uptake, impairing plant growth, and contaminating soil, posing a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability. The use of deashed biochar (DAB) and strigolactone can be an effective solution to mitigate this issue. Deashed biochar enhances crop production by improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability while mitigating the bioavailability of toxic substances. Strigolactone boosts plant growth by stimulating root growth, branching, shoot formation, and overall plant physiology. Nevertheless, the scientific rationale behind their collective use as an amendment to counter Cr stress remains to be substantiated. Therefore, in this study, a blend of DAB and strigolactone was employed as additives in radish cultivation, both in the absence of Cr stress and under the influence of 200Cr stress. Four treatments, i.e., 0, 20µM Strigolactone, DAB, and 20µM Strigolactone + DAB, were applied in four replications following a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that 20µM Strigolactone + DAB produced significant improvement in radish shoot length (27.29%), root length (45.60%), plant fresh weight (33.25%), and plant dry weight (78.91%), compared to the control under Cr stress. Significant enrichment in radish chlorophyll a (20.41%), chlorophyll b (58.53%), and total chlorophyll (31.54%) over the control under Cr stress, prove the efficacy of 20µM Strigolactone + DAB treatment. In conclusion, 20µM Strigolactone + DAB is the recommended amendment for mitigating Cr stress in radish. Farmers should consider using Strigolactone + DAB amendments to combat Cr stress and enhance radish growth, contributing to a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uzma Younis
- Botany Department, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Sub Campus Rahim Yar Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Subhan Danish
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Rahul Datta
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, 61300, Czech Republic.
| | - Tahani Awad Alahmadi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Medical City, PO Box-2925, 11461, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Javed Ansari
- Department of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University Bareilly), Moradabad, India
| |
Collapse
|