Antioxidant activity and comparative RNA-seq analysis support mitigating effects of an algae-based biostimulant on drought stress in tomato plants.

Abstract

Drought is a significant global environmental stress. Biostimulants offer a sustainable solution to enhance crop tolerance and mitigate productivity losses. This study assessed the impact of foliar application of ERANTHIS®, a biostimulant derived from the algae Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria digitata and yeast extracts, on tomato plants under mild water stress. Evaluations were conducted at 5 and 24 hours after the third treatment. Under optimal water conditions, the biostimulant showed a priming effect, with an early increase of stress markers and a timing-specific modulation of ROS non enzymatic and enzymatic ROS scavenging activities. Under drought stress, the biostimulant later decreased stress markers, by aligning the majority of analyzed ROS scavengers closer to levels in well-irrigated plants. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq data revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and multivariate data highlighted groups of co-regulated genes (k-means clustering). Genes involved in water channel activity, transcription regulator activity, and oxidoreductase activity were significantly modulated. Cluster analysis identified distinct gene clusters influenced by the biostimulant under optimal conditions, including early responses (cell wall modification, hormone signaling) and late responses (RNA modification, nutrient uptake process). Under water stress, early responses involved actin filament organization and MAPK signaling, while late responses were related to plasma membrane components and cell wall organization. This study, integrating biochemical and transcriptomic data, provides a comprehensive understanding of how a biostimulant primes plants under optimal conditions and mitigates water stress effects, offering valuable insights for sustainable agriculture.