Biochar-extracted liquor stimulates nitrogen related gene expression on improving nitrogen utilization in rice seedling

Jian Gao; Shaohua Ge; Hailong Wang; Yunying Fang; Luming Sun; Tianyi He; Xiaoyi Cheng; Di Wang; Xuanwei Zhou; Heqing Cai; Caibin Li; Yanxiang Liu; Yang E; Jun Meng; Wenfu Chen

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1131937

Biochar-extracted liquor stimulates nitrogen related gene expression on improving nitrogen utilization in rice seedling

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jun 19:14:1131937. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1131937. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jian Gao^{1

2}, Shaohua Ge^{1

2}, Hailong Wang³, Yunying Fang⁴, Luming Sun^{1

2}, Tianyi He^{1

2}, Xiaoyi Cheng^{1

2}, Di Wang^{1

2}, Xuanwei Zhou^{1

2}, Heqing Cai⁵, Caibin Li⁵, Yanxiang Liu⁵, Yang E^{1

2}, Jun Meng^{1

2}, Wenfu Chen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ National Biochar Institute of Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
² Key Laboratory of Biochar and Soil Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang, China.
³ School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China.
⁴ Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia.
⁵ Bijie Tobacco Company of Guizhou Province, Bijie, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Biochar has been shown to be an effective soil amendment for promoting plant growth and improving nitrogen (N) utilization. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind such stimulation remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we investigated whether biochar-extracted liquor including 21 organic molecules enhance the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice plants using two N forms (NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^--N). A hydroponic experiment was conducted, and biochar-extracted liquor (between 1 and 3% by weight) was applied to rice seedlings.

Results: The results showed that biochar-extracted liquor significantly improved phenotypic and physiological traits of rice seedlings. Biochar-extracted liquor dramatically upregulated the expression of rice N metabolism-related genes such as OsAMT1.1, OsGS1.1, and OsGS2. Rice seedlings preferentially absorbed NH₄ ⁺-N than NO₃ ^--N (p < 0.05), and the uptake of NH₄ ⁺-N by rice seedlings was significantly increased by 33.60% under the treatment of biochar-extracted liquor. The results from molecular docking showed that OsAMT1.1protein can theoretically interact with 2-Acetyl-5-methylfuran, trans-2,4-Dimethylthiane, S, S-dioxide, 2,2-Diethylacetamide, and 1,2-Dimethylaziridine in the biochar-extracted liquor. These four organic compounds have similar biological function as the OsAMT1.1 protein ligand in driving NH₄ ⁺-N uptakes by rice plants.

Discussion: This study highlights the importance of biochar-extracted liquor in promoting plant growth and NUE. The use of low doses of biochar-extracted liquor could be an important way to reduce N input in order to achieve the purpose of reducing fertilizer use and increasing efficiency in agricultural production.

Keywords: OsAMT1.1 protein; biochar-extracted liquor; molecular docking; nitrogen metabolism; rice seedlings.

Grants and funding

This study was financially supported by the Science and Technology Plan Project of Shenyang, China (22-317-2-08, 2021-57), the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System (CARS01-51), the Innovative Talents Promotion Plan of Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (No.2017RA2211). This study received funding from the S&D Program from Bijie Tobacco Company of Guizhou Province (2021520500240048, 2018520500240066). The funder was not involved in the study design, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.