The Impact of Dissolved Biochar on Oxidative Stress and Its Effect on the Virulence of Steinernema feltiae: Implications for Biocontrol Efficiency

Xinrui Wang, Jie Li (), Jing Li, Lan Luo, Gang Li, Weibin Ruan and Guilong Zhang
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Xinrui Wang: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Jie Li: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Jing Li: Cucumber Research Institute of Tianjin Kernel Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300192, China
Lan Luo: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Gang Li: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Weibin Ruan: College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Guilong Zhang: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Dissolved biochar (DBC) can make a significantly impact on soil ecosystems and the associated biota due to its high environmental bioavailability. However, the impact of DBC on the adaptability of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), such as Steinernema feltiae , remains uncertain. This study investigates the impact of DBC on oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme activity, virulence, and gene expression in EPNs through culture assays and RNA-seq analysis. Results showed that DBC exposure significantly increased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. The nematodes treated with DBC700 exhibited 64.34% higher ROS levels, while those treated with DBC400 had 51.13% higher levels compared to the control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly suppressed, with a stronger inhibition observed in the DBC700 group. As revealed by virulence assays, DBC treatment reduced the infectivity of EPNs against Galleria mellonella larvae. Transcriptome analysis revealed that DBC primarily affected oxidative stress response, membrane transport, and longevity regulation pathways. Moreover, DBC400 predominantly inhibited carbohydrate metabolism, whereas DBC700 significantly impacted oxidative metabolism, protein processing, and neuronal signaling pathways, suggesting the presence of distinct metabolic adaptation mechanisms between the two DBCs. Overall, this study suggests that DBC may impair the biocontrol efficacy of S. feltiae through oxidative stress and genetic perturbations, providing new insights into its long-term ecological impacts on soil ecosystems.

Keywords: biochar; entomopathogenic nematodes; antioxidant enzyme activity; transcriptome analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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