Polyphosphate application influences morpho-physiological root traits involved in P acquisition and durum wheat growth performance

Abstract

Background Among phosphate (P) fertilizers, polyphosphates (PolyPs) have shown promising results in terms of crop yield and plant P nutrition. However, compared to conventional P inputs, very little is known on the impact of PolyPs fertilizers on below- and above-ground plant functional traits involved in P acquisition. This study aims to evaluate agro-physiological responses of durum wheat variety ´Karim´ under different PolyPs applications. Three PolyPs fertilizers (PolyA, PolyB, and PolyC) versus one orthophosphate (OrthoP) were applied at three doses; 30 (D30), 60 (D60), and 90 (D90) kg P/ha under controlled conditions. The PolyPs (especially PolyB and PolyC) application at D60 significantly increased morphophysiological root traits (e.g., RL: 42 and 130%; RSA:40 and 60%), shoot inorganic P (Pi) content (159 and 88%), and root P acquisition efficiency (471 and 296%) under PolyB and PolyC, respectively compared to unfertilized plants. Above-ground physiological parameters, mainly nutrient acquisition, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were also improved under PolyB and PolyA application at D60. A significant and positive correlation between shoot Pi content and rhizosphere soil acid phosphatase activity was observed, which reveal the key role of these enzymes in PolyPs (A and B) use efficiency. Furthermore, increased P uptake/RL ratio along with shoot Pi indicates more efficient P allocation to shoots with less investment in root biomass production under PolyPs (especially A and B). Conclusions Under our experimental conditions, these findings report positive impacts of PolyPs on wheat growth performance, particularly on photosynthesis and nutrient acquisition at D60, along with modulation of root morpho-physiological traits likely responsible of P acquisition efficiency.

Photosynthetic performance and nutrient uptake under salt stress: Differential responses of wheat plants to contrasting phosphorus forms and rates

“…However, phosphorus uptake by plants, in the form of phosphate ions, depends on soil physicochemical parameters ( Pereira et al., 2020 ), the application method and its frequency ( Rady et al., 2018 ; Chtouki et al., 2022 ), the root exudation and architecture ( Khourchi et al., 2022a ), and the rhizosphere microbial activity ( Wahid et al., 2020 ). In this regard, different studies have proven the effectiveness of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in improving crop yield due to improved P levels in the soil ( Khourchi et al., 2022b ).…”

“…Polyphosphates (PolyP) have been applied in agriculture and are renowned for releasing available P to plants in agricultural soil slowly and continuously ( Kulakovskaya et al., 2012 ). These characteristics make PolyP a sustainable source of P to satisfy plant requirements and prevent phosphorus losses in soils over time ( Khourchi et al., 2022a ). Furthermore, it has also been found that PolyP fertilizers differ from orthophosphates (OrthoP) by their capacity to chelate certain micronutrients such as manganese, iron, and zinc ( Wang et al., 2019 ; Gao et al., 2020 ).…”

Identification and validation of quantitative trait loci for chlorophyll content of flag leaf in wheat under different phosphorus treatments

“…Therefore, the chlorophyll content of flag leaves of the DH population at the S3 and the S4 stages under LP conditions was significantly lower than under CK conditions. At the last stage of grain filling, phosphorus deficiency not only reduces the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic area of wheat ( Khourchi et al., 2022 ; Nguyen et al., 2022 ) but also influences the photosynthetic efficiency ( Nguyen et al., 2022 ), resulting in a decrease in the number of ATP ( Lin et al., 2009 ), decreasing the synthesis of RuBP, limiting the fixation of CO 2 ( Bown et al., 2009 ), and seriously affecting yield formation ( McDonald et al., 2015 ).…”

Biodegradable Dextrin-Based Microgels for Slow Release of Dual Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture

“…Next, the suspension was centrifuged and the collected supernatant was further examined via UV−vis spectrophotometer at wavelengths of 645 and 663 nm. 7 Further, the nitrogen content was measured in maize leaves using Kjeldahl method as per the procedure given by PanReac Aplichem with slight modifications. 42 2.10.…”

“…However, the effectiveness of N fertilizer absorption is often low, with estimates ranging from 30% to 50%, due to their transformation into other forms by oxidation mechanisms. , Following nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) fertilizers are also essential to ensure optimal crop yields. P has traditionally been added to agricultural soils as orthophosphate (OrthoP)-based fertilizers, such as monoammonium P, triple superphosphate, and single superphosphate . However, P fertilizer usage efficacy is typically between 10% and 25%, owing to P adsorption by clay particles and precipitation by soil cations including Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe 3+ , and Al 3+ . , Low P availability has a negative impact on root growth in plants .…”