https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2022.2086
Agronomic response of sunflower subjected to biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application under drought conditions
Submitted: 3 April 2022
Accepted: 18 August 2022
Published: 13 September 2022
Accepted: 18 August 2022
Abstract Views: 1194
PDF: 1037
HTML: 270
HTML: 270
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
There is growing interest in developing environment-friendly farming practices that can limit the impact of drought stress in agriculture. The main objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the agronomic responses of sunflower. Field experiments were conducted in the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons in semi-arid environments of Iran. The following treatments were adopted: i) three levels of biochar [0, 2.5 and 5 t ha–1 of biochar called Bl, Bm and Bh, respectively]; and ii) three irrigation levels (50, 30 and 10% of the maximum available water (MAW) called 50MAW, 30MAW and 10MAW, respectively)]; iii) two levels of AMF inoculation (with and without the addition of AMF called +AMF and –AMF, respectively). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. At flowering, the leaf area index (LAI) was generally higher in the plants subjected to Bh-+AMF (on average 4.95), even if the LAI values changed according to biochar application (Bh > Bm > Bl) and the level of irrigation (50MAW > 30MAW > 10MAW). At harvesting, sunflower seed yield was highest in +AMF and in Bh (on average 53.9 and 51.2 g plants–1, respectively). Sunflower plants subjected to Bh-+AMF showed the highest seed yield under all irrigation levels (79.4, 57.1 and 32.3 g plant–1 in 50MAW, 30MAW and 10MAW, respectively). The application of biochar combined with AMF resulted in an increase in agronomic responses compared to untreated plants (Bl- –AMF) such as root biomass (+15%), stem diameter (+12%), plant height (+5%) and head diameter (+15%). Seed protein was higher in +AMF than –AMF (on average 20.7 vs 17.2 g m–2, respectively) and in Bh and Bm compared with Bl (on average 19.4 vs 18.2 g m–2, respectively). The oil content of seeds was affected by biochar application and AMF inoculation, especially under 50MAW and 30MAW irrigation levels; conversely, no differences were observed under the 10MAW irrigation level. Sunflower yield characteristics were positively correlated to the net photosynthesis rate and negatively affected by hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. The results showed that the adoption of biochar and AMF may represent as a successful strategy to balance crop productivity in a semi-arid environment. Although further research is required for a better understanding of the irrigation and fertilization schedule, these preliminary results could be extended to other crops which have similar requirements to sunflower.
Highlights
- The combined effects of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on sunflower are studied.
- Biochar application and mycorrhiza inoculation improved plant performance.
- Biochar and AMF positively affected the net photosynthesis rate of sunflower plants.
- The adoption of biochar and AMF may mitigate the effect of drought conditions.
- Biochar and AMF can support sunflower cultivation.
Ali Q, Ashraf M, Anwar, F, 2009. Physico-chemical attributes of seed oil from drought stressed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants. Grasas Aceites 60:475-81.
Ali S, Rizwan M, Qayyum MF, Ok YS, Ibrahim M, Riaz M, Arif MS, Hafeez F, Al-Wabel MI, Shahzad AN, 2017. Biochar soil amendment on alleviation of drought and salt stress in plants: a critical review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. R. 24:12700-12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8904-x
AOCS (American Oil Chemists’ Society), 1998. Official method Cd 8-53. Peroxide value. In: D. Firestone (Ed.), Official methods and recommended practices of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 5th Edition. AOCS, Champaign, III.
Baiamonte G, De Pasquale C, Marsala V, Cimò G, Alonzo G, Crescimanno G, Conte P, 2015. Structure alteration of a sandy-clay soil by biochar amendments. J. Soils Sediments 15:816-24.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-0960-y
Baldini M, Giovanardi R, Tahmasebi Enferadi S, Vannozzi GP, 2002. Effects of water regime on fatty acid accumulation and final fatty acid composition in the oil of standard and high oleic sunflower hybrids. Ital. J. Agron. 6:119-26.
Banerjee K, Gadani MH, Srivastava KK, Verma N, Jasrai YT, Jain NK, 2013. Screening of efficient arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for Azadirachta indica under nursery condition: A step towards afforestation of semi-arid region of western India. Braz. J. Microbiol. 44:587-93.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-83822013005000046
Bernardo L, Morcia C, Carletti P, Ghizzoni R, Badeck FW, Rizza F, Lucini L, Terzi V, 2017. Proteomic insight into the mitigation of wheat root drought stress by arbuscular mycorrhizae. J. Proteomics 169:21-32.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2017.03.024
Bates LS, Waldren RP, Teare ID, 1973. Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies. Plant Soil. 39:205-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018060
Bozdogan D, Arslan M, Oksuz A, 2019. Physicochemical properties of cold pressed sunflower , peanut , rapeseed , mustard and olive oils grown in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 26:340-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.04.005
Cakmak I, 1994. Activity of ascorbate-dependent H2O2-scavenging enzymes and leaf chlorosis are enhanced in magnesium- and potassium-deficient leaves, but not in phosphorus-deficient leaves. J. Exp. Bot. 45:1259-66.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/45.9.1259
Chaves MM, Maroco JP, Pereira JS, 2003. Understanding plant responses to drought - From genes to the whole plant. Funct. Plant Biol. 30:239-64.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/FP02076
Duc NH, Csintalan Z, Posta K, 2018. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate negative effects of combined drought and heat stress on tomato plants. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 132:297-307.
Egamberdieva D, Reckling M, Wirth S, 2017. Biochar-based Bradyrhizobium inoculum improves growth of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) under drought stress. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 78:38-42.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2016.11.007
Essahibi A, Benhiba L, Babram MA, Ghoulam C, Qaddoury A, 2018. Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the functional mechanisms associated with drought tolerance in carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.). Trees - Struct. Funct. 32:87-97.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1613-8
Fatemi S, 2014. Germination and seedling growth in primed seeds of sunflower under water stress. Annu. Res. Rev. Biol. 4:9971.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2014/9971
García-López J, Lorite IJ, García-Ruiz R, Domínguez J, 2014. Evaluation of three simulation approaches for assessing yield of rainfed sunflower in a Mediterranean environment for climate change impact modelling. Clim. Change 124:147-62.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1067-6
García-López J, Lorite IJ, García-Ruiz R., Ordoñez R, Dominguez J, 2016. Yield response of sunflower to irrigation and fertilization under semi-arid conditions. Agric. Water Manag. 176:151-62.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.020
Garofalo P, Rinaldi M, 2015. Leaf gas exchange and radiation use efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) in response to different deficit irrigation strategies: From solar radiation to plant growth analysis. Eur. J. Agron, 64:88-97.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2014.12.010
Gavili E, Moosavi AA, Kamgar Haghighi AA, 2019. Does biochar mitigate the adverse effects of drought on the agronomic traits and yield components of soybean? Ind. Crops Prod. 128:445-54.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.11.047
Ghobadi M, Taherabadi S, Ghobadi ME, Mohammadi GR, Jalali-Honarmand S, 2013. Antioxidant capacity, photosynthetic characteristics and water relations of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars in response to drought stress. Ind. Crops Prod. 50:29-38.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.07.009
Gholamhoseini M, Ghalavand A, Dolatabadian A, Jamshidi E, Khodaei-Joghan A, 2013. Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and irrigation water productivity of sunflowers grown under drought stress. Agric. Water Manag. 117:106-14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2012.11.007
Gholinezhad E, Darvishzadeh R, 2021. Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and drought stress on fatty acids profile of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). F. Crop. Res. 262:108035.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.108035
Gomez KA, Gomez AA, 1984. Statistical procedures for agricultural research. John Wiley Sons Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA.
Hashem A, Kumar A, Al-Dbass AM, Alqarawi AA, Al-Arjani ABF, Singh G, Farooq M, Abd_Allah EF, 2019. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar improves drought tolerance in chickpea. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 26:614-24.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.11.005
He L, Li C, Liu R, 2017. Indirect interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Spodoptera exigua alter photosynthesis and plant endogenous hormones. Mycorrhiza 27:525-35.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-017-0771-2
Hussain M, Farooq S, Hasan W, Ul-Allah S, Tanveer M, Farooq M, Nawaz A, 2018. Drought stress in sunflower: physiological effects and its management through breeding and agronomic alternatives. Agric. Water Manag. 201:152-66.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.01.028
Ismail A, Marjan ZM, Foong CW, 2004. Total antioxidant activity and phenolic content in selected vegetables. Food Chem. 87:581-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.01.010
Janero DR, 1990. Malondialdehyde and thiobarbituric acid-reactivity as diagnostic indices of lipid peroxidation and peroxidative tissue injury. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 9:515-40.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-5849(90)90131-2
Kabir AH, Debnath T, Das U, Prity SA, Haque A, Rahman MM, Parvez MS, 2020. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviate Fe-deficiency symptoms in sunflower by increasing iron uptake and its availability along with antioxidant defense. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 150:254-62.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.03.010
Kammann CI, Linsel S, Gößling JW, Koyro HW, 2011. Influence of biochar on drought tolerance of Chenopodium quinoa Willd and on soil-plant relations. Plant Soil. 345:195-210.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0771-5
Karam F, Lahoud R, Masaad R, Kabalan R, Breidi J, Chalita C, Rouphael Y, 2007. Evapotranspiration, seed yield and water use efficiency of drip irrigated sunflower under full and deficit irrigation conditions. Agric. Water Manag. 90:213-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2007.03.009
Khan A, Iqbal M, Ahmad I, Iqbal N, Hussain M, 2000. Effect of different water stress levels on yield and oil content of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars. Pakistan J. Biol. Sci. 3:1632-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2000.1632.1633
Lang Y, Wang M, Xia J, Zhao Q, 2018. Effects of soil drought stress on photosynthetic gas exchange traits and chlorophyll fluorescence in Forsythia suspensa. J. For. Res. 29:45-53.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0420-9
Langeroodi ARS, Osipitan OA, Radicetti E, Mancinelli R, 2020. To what extent arbuscular mycorrhiza can protect chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) against drought stress. Sci. Hortic. (Amsterdam). 263:109109.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.109109
Leventis G, Tsiknia M, Feka M, Ladikou EV, Papadakis IE, Chatzipavlidis I, Papadopoulou K, Ehaliotis C, 2021. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance growth of tomato under normal and drought conditions, via different water regulation mechanisms. Rhizosphere 19:100394.
Lichtenthaler HK, 1987. Chlorophylls and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes, Chapter 34. In: Methods enzymol, vol. 148. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA, USA, pp. 350-382.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0076-6879(87)48036-1
Lone AH, Najar GR, Ganie MA, Sofi JA, Ali T, 2015. Biochar for sustainable soil health: a review of prospects and concerns. Pedosphere 25:639-53.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(15)30045-X
Meddich A, Jaiti F, Bourzik W, Asli A, Hafidi M, 2015. Use of mycorrhizal fungi as a strategy for improving the drought tolerance in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). Sci. Hortic. (Amsterdam). 192:468-74.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.06.024
Nagarajan S, Nagarajan S, 2010. Abiotic tolerance and crop improvement. In: Abiotic stress adaptation in plants: physiological, molecular and genomic foundation. Springer, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, pp. 1-11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3112-9_1
Niu S, Luo Y, Li D, Cao S, Xia J, Li J, Smith MD, 2014. Plant growth and mortality under climatic extremes: An overview. Environ. Exp. Bot. 98:13-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2013.10.004
Omran RG, 1980. Peroxide levels and the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and indoleacetic acid oxidase during and after chilling cucumber seedlings. Plant Physiol. 65:407-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.65.2.407
Pagter M, Bragato C, Brix H, 2005. Tolerance and physiological responses of Phragmites australis to water deficit. Aquat. Bot. 81:285-99.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2005.01.002
Paneque M, De la Rosa JM, Franco-Navarro JD, Colmenero-Flores JM, Knicker H, 2016. Effect of biochar amendment on morphology, productivity and water relations of sunflower plants under non-irrigation conditions. Catena 147:280-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.07.037
Quarrie SA, Whitford PN, Appleford NEJ, Wang TL, Cook SK, Henson IE, 1988. A monoclonal antibody to (S)-abscisic acid: its characterization and use in radioimmunoassay for measuring abscisic acid in crude extracts of cereal and lupin leaves. Planta 173:130-9.
Ren AT, Zhu Y, Chen YL, Ren HX, Li JY, Kay Abbott L, Xiong YC, 2019. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus alters root-sourced signal (abscisic acid) for better drought acclimation in Zea mays L. seedlings. Environ. Exp. Bot. 167:103824.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.103824
Rogovska N, Laird DA, Rathke SJ, Karlen DL, 2014. Biochar impact on Midwestern Mollisols and maize nutrient availability. Geoderma 230-231:340-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009
Rondanini D, Savin R, Hall AJ, 2003. Dynamics of fruit growth and oil quality of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) exposed to brief intervals of high temperature during grain filling. F. Crop. Res. 83:79-90.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(03)00064-9
Rozpadek P, Rapała-Kozik M, Wezowicz K, Grandin A, Karlsson S, Wazny R, Anielska T, Turnau K, 2016. Arbuscular mycorrhiza improves yield and nutritional properties of onion (Allium cepa). Plant Physiol. Biochem. 107:264-72.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.06.006
Rutigliano FA, Romano M, Marzaioli R, Baglivo I, Baronti S, Miglietta F, Castaldi S, 2014. Effect of biochar addition on soil microbial community in a wheat crop. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 60:9-15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.10.007
Safahani Langeroodi AR, Mancinelli R, Radicetti E, 2021. Contribution of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to sustainable cultivation of sunflower under semi-arid environment. F. Crop. Res. 273:108292.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108292
Sairam, RK, Srivastava, GC, 2001. Water stress tolerance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Variations in hydrogen peroxide accumulation and antioxidant activity in tolerant and susceptible genotypes. J. Agron. Crop Sci. 186:63-70.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-037x.2001.00461.x
Seleiman MF, Refay Y, Al-Suhaibani N, Al-Ashkar I, El-Hendawy S, Hafez EM, 2019. Integrative effects of rice-straw biochar and silicon on oil and seed quality, yield and physiological traits of helianthus annuus L. grown under water deficit stress. Agronomy 9:637.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100637
Shabbir RN, Waraich EA, Ali H, Nawaz F, Ashraf MY, Ahmad R, Awan MI, Ahmad S, Irfan M, Hussain S, Ahmad Z, 2016. Supplemental exogenous NPK application alters biochemical processes to improve yield and drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 23:2651-62.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5452-0
Shafiq S, Akram NA, Ashraf M, Arshad A, 2014. Synergistic effects of drought and ascorbic acid on growth, mineral nutrients and oxidative defense system in canola (Brassica napus L.) plants. Acta Physiol. Plant. 36:1539-53.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1530-z
Shanta N, Schwinghamer T, Backer R, Allaire SE, Teshler I, Vanasse A, Whalen J, Baril B, Lange, S, MacKay J, Zhou X, Smith DL, 2016. Biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria effects on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum cv. Cave-in-Rock) for biomass production in southern Québec depend on soil type and location. Biomass Bioener. 95:167-73.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.10.005
Shehzad MA, Nawaz F, Ahmad F, Ahmad N, Masood S, 2020. Protective effect of potassium and chitosan supply on growth, physiological processes and antioxidative machinery in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought stress. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 187:109841.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109841
Smart RE, Bingham GE, 1974. Rapid estimates of relative water content. Plant Physiol. 53:258-60.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.53.2.258
Suppadit T, Phumkokrak N, Poungsuk, P, 2012. The effect of using quail litter biochar on soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) production. Chil. J. Agric. Res. 72:244-51.
Tanure MMC, da Costa LM, Huiz HA, Fernandes RBA, Cecon PR, Pereira Junior JD, da Luz JMR, 2019. Soil water retention, physiological characteristics, and growth of maize plants in response to biochar application to soil. Soil Tillage Res. 192:164-73.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.05.007
Velikova V, Yordanov I, Edreva A, 2000. Oxidative stress and some antioxidant systems in acid rain-treated bean plants protective role of exogenous polyamines. Plant Sci. 151:59-66.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(99)00197-1
Wada S, Takagi D, Miyake C, Makino A, Suzuki Y, 2019. Responses of the photosynthetic electron transport reactions stimulate the oxidation of the reaction center chlorophyll of photosystem I, P700, under drought and high temperatures in rice. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 20:2068.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20092068
Wang L, Yang D, Ma F, Wang G, You Y, 2022. Recent advances in responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - Plant symbiosis to engineered nanoparticles. Chemosphere 286:131644.
How to Cite
Safahani Langeroodia, A. ., Tedeschi, P., Allevato, E., Stazi, S. R., Aadil, R. M., Mancinelli, R., & Radicetti, E. (2022). Agronomic response of sunflower subjected to biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application under drought conditions. Italian Journal of Agronomy, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2022.2086
Copyright (c) 2022 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.