Integrating Biofertilizers with Organic Fertilizers Enhances Photosynthetic Efficiency and Upregulates Chlorophyll-Related Gene Expression in Rice

Pretty Mthiyane, Murat Aycan () and Toshiaki Mitsui ()
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Pretty Mthiyane: Department of Life and Food Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
Murat Aycan: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute for Social Innovation and Cooperation, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
Toshiaki Mitsui: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute for Social Innovation and Cooperation, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-24

Abstract: Biofertilizers offer a sustainable method for improving rice growth and productivity, yet their effects on the interaction between plant growth, photosynthetic activity, and gene expression remain under-researched. This study examines how biofertilizer influences rice physiology, focusing on photosynthetic regulation and expression of chlorophyll-related genes. Eight fertilizer treatments were applied: control (CNT), biofertilizer (BF), deactivated biofertilizer (DABF), rice straw (RS), rice straw with biofertilizer (RS+BF), organic fertilizer (OF), organic fertilizer with biofertilizer (OF+BF), and inorganic fertilizer (IOF). Plant height, tiller number, SPAD, NDVI, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis rates were measured, while gene expression analysis was conducted using RT-qPCR. The OF+BF treatment produced the most significant results, leading to a 31% increase in plant height, a 135% increase in tiller number, and a 42% increase in chlorophyll content (SPAD values) compared to the control. Additionally, OF+BF enhanced photosynthetic efficiency by 74%, with the highest net photosynthetic rate of 48.23 μmol CO 2 m −2 s −1 . Gene expression analysis revealed that OF+BF upregulated key photosynthesis-related genes, such as OsChlD and OsCHLM , showing a 70% and 90% increase in expression. These findings highlight the potential of integrating biofertilizers with organic fertilizers to sustainably boost rice growth and productivity, contributing to global food security and climate change mitigation.

Keywords: global warming; rice cultivation; biofertilizers; photosynthetic efficiency; gene expression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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