Investigating the synergistic effects of nano-zinc and biochar in mitigating aluminum toxicity in soybeans

Enxi Zhang; Kun Liu; Suwen Liang; Lingrui Liu; Hai Nian; Tengxiang Lian

doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109275

Investigating the synergistic effects of nano-zinc and biochar in mitigating aluminum toxicity in soybeans

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2024 Nov 7:217:109275. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109275. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Enxi Zhang¹, Kun Liu¹, Suwen Liang¹, Lingrui Liu¹, Hai Nian², Tengxiang Lian³

Affiliations

¹ South China Institute for Soybean Innovation Research, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for the Development Biology and Environmental Adaptation of Agricultural Organisms, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory for Enhancing Resource Use Efficiency of Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
² South China Institute for Soybean Innovation Research, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for the Development Biology and Environmental Adaptation of Agricultural Organisms, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory for Enhancing Resource Use Efficiency of Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: hnian@scau.edu.cn.
³ South China Institute for Soybean Innovation Research, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for the Development Biology and Environmental Adaptation of Agricultural Organisms, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory for Enhancing Resource Use Efficiency of Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: liantx@scau.edu.cn.

PMID: 39541865
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109275

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) toxicity limited root growth by reducing nutrient translocation and promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, particularly in soybean. The endophyte of root could be modified by plant metabolites, which could potentially alter the tolerance to environmental toxicity of plants in acidic-Al soils. To explore how they help soybean mitigate Al toxicity by altering root endophytes, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) at doses of 0, 30, 60, 90 mg/kg and 2% biochar (BC) were selected as bio modifiers, and Al₂(SO₄)₃ at 19 mg/kg was used to simulate Al toxicity. We analyzed root endophytes and metabolites by high-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found that ZnO NPs with BC could bolster soybean resilience against Al toxicity by enriching soil nutrients, activating enzymes, and bolstering antioxidant mechanisms. We also observed that it enriched root endophytic microbial diversity, notably increasing populations of Nakamurella, Aureimonas, Luteimonas, and Sphingomonas. These changes in the endophytes contributed to the improved adaptability of plants to adversity under Al toxicity. This study highlighted the potential of using ZnO NPs and BC as a sustainable approach to combat Al toxicity, emphasizing the intricate interplay between plant physiology and rhizosphere microbial dynamics in mitigating the effects of environmental toxicity.

Keywords: Aluminum toxicity; Biochar; Root endophyte; Soybean; Zinc oxide nanoparticles.