Effect and mechanism of biochar-based hydrogel to alleviate drought stress in tobacco
Hongfang Jia,
Maolin Xia,
Junying Li,
Huayu Li,
Dong Chang,
Dingwei Yan,
Miao Lai,
Yuewei Wei,
Pengfei Chang,
Xiaopeng Yang,
Xiaoming Ji
Affiliations
Hongfang Jia
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
Maolin Xia
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China; Fujian Jinmin Reconstituted Tobacco Develop Co., Ltd., Fuzhou, 350600, China
Junying Li
Henan Province Tobacco Company Pingdingshan Company, Pingdingshan 467000, China
Huayu Li
Key Laboratory for Standardization of Reconstituted Tobacco in Tobacco Industry, Henan Cigarette Industrial Reconstituted Tobacco Sheet Co., Ltd., Xuchang, 461000, China
Dong Chang
Henan Province Tobacco Company Pingdingshan Company, Pingdingshan 467000, China
Dingwei Yan
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
Miao Lai
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
Yuewei Wei
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China; Corresponding authors.
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China; Corresponding authors.
Xiaoming Ji
National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, Henan Engineering Research Center for Biochar, and College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China; Corresponding authors.
Drought is an important abiotic stressor that adversely affects agricultural production, resulting in decreased crop yields and food insecurity. The objective of this study was to develop a novel hydrogel-based composite (S-B-AA) by incorporating biochar into hydrogel (S-AA) and evaluating its effects on tobacco plants under drought stress. The S-B-AA hydrogel exhibited enhanced water absorption and retention capabilities compared to the S-AA hydrogel. Under drought stress conditions, the S-B-AA hydrogel effectively increased the total water content, relative water content, and free water content of tobacco leaves, while reducing the bound water content and water saturation deficit. Additionally, it improved the stomatal status of tobacco leaves, significantly enhanced the photosynthetic capacity of tobacco seedlings, and promoted biomass accumulation. Moreover, the S-B-AA hydrogel alleviated the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by drought stress in tobacco seedlings, thereby alleviating ROS damage to cell membranes. It also reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and the levels of the signaling molecule H2S, while minimizing the impact of drought stress on tobacco osmotic regulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that S-B-AA up-regulated 2826 DEGs and down-regulated 5225 DEGs compared to the control group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, plant hormone signaling pathway, and photosynthesis pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the application of S-B-AA hydrogel in agriculture and environmental protection.
