Hydrogen rich water (HRW) induces plant growth and physiological attributes in fragrant rice varieties under salt stress

Abstract

Hydrogen is an important molecule, exerting antioxidant ability in plants and animals through antioxidant enzymes, which can be dissolved in water. Previous studies have showed that application of hydrogen rich water (HRW), containing a high concentration of hydrogen, plays an important role in enhancing drought tolerance and alleviating the metal stress in plants. However, the effects of HRW on plant growth and physiological attributes in fragrant rice varieties under salt stress are still unclear. A pot experiment was conducted with two fragrant rice varieties i.e. Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan to study the effects of HRW treatments i.e. foliar application of HRW (F-HRW) and irrigation application of HRW (I-HRW) on plant growth and physiological attributes under two NaCl levels (0 mmol L -1 and 150 mmol L -1 ). The results depicte d that, compared with without HRW treatment (CK), the F-HRW and I-HRW treatments significantly increased the dry weight per unit seedling height by 12.64% and 22.99%, while decreased the plant height by 3.92% and 2.97% respectively of two fragrant rice varieties under salt stress. Moreover, compared with CK treatment, the activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were enhanced by F-HRW and I-HRW treatments in NaCl-stressed fragrant rice cultivars and opposite results were observed for MDA content. In crux, our findings conclude that application of HRW modulates the plant growth and physiological attributes in salt-stressed fragrant rice cultivars.

Hydrogen-rich water: a key player in boosting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling growth and drought resilience

“…Previous studies have noted a comparable morphological advancement in barley where subjecting HRW to drought circumstances resulted in an increase in the rate of seed germination and a reduction in the rate of inhibition of seedling growth 31 . Furthermore, the treatment of rice plants with HRW resulted in an increase in both plant height and dry weight 32 . Wheat seedlings, altering their physical traits to manage drought stress, frequently employ diverse strategies to confront limited water availability 33 – 35 .…”

“…These enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT), are crucial in mitigating oxidative damage and reducing ROS production in plants. Among them, CAT is particularly noteworthy in scavenging H 2 O 2 to impede ROS formation 32 , 37 , 43 . Our study revealed that the application of HRW to plants led to enhanced levels of CAT, SOD, and APX activities relative to the control group.…”

Understanding Hydrogen: Lessons to Be Learned from Physical Interactions between the Inert Gases and the Globin Superfamily

“…It appears that in humans H 2 can be administered to the lungs [12], as a drink [13], or can even be used as a topical treatment [14]. For plants, HRW can be supplied to the soil [15], the feed water [16] or foliage [17], and the atmosphere can be augmented with H 2 gas [18]. Alternatively, H 2 can be supplied to biological tissues via a donor molecule, which will release H 2 in the needed location.…”