Soil incorporation of Superabsorbent Hydrogels to counteract water scarcity: Modelling tree physiological and biochemical response

IF 6.1 2区生物学 Q1 PLANT SCIENCES

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI:10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109775

Tommaso Frioni, Pier Giorgio Bonicelli, Clara Ripa, Stefano Poni

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Superabsorbent Hydrogels are materials capable of absorbing significant amounts of water as compared to their mass. In view of climate change constraints, the use of new Hydrogels is gaining interest, but little is known about their effects on tree physiology when incorporated at transplanting. The goal of the work was to determine the effects of the incorporation of a potassium polyacrylate based Hydrogel to the soil (SH) of potted grapevines, modeling their physiological answer as compared to untreated Controls (CON). We aimed to understand if their use could benefit plant water status and physiological performances before, during, and after a progressive water deficit.

The application of Hydrogel significantly affected soil hydrology, increasing field capacity, wilting point and maximum available content (from 23 % to 42 % of total soil moisture). When irrigation was reduced, soil water potential (Ψ) and vine midday stem Ψ decline were postponed in SH (by about two days). In SH vines, the biosynthesis of leaf proline and hydrogen peroxide was reduced or prevented as compared to CON, and at re-watering SH vines had significantly higher photosynthetic rates (+8.95 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and Fv/Fm (+34 %). As a result, at the end of the experiment SH vines marked a significantly higher vine leaf area (+8.2 %) and third internode diameter (+29.8 %). Overall, Hydrogels were effective in changing vine water status and physiological performances either under full irrigation or under reduced water availability. The results pave the way for the implementation of their use at transplanting to reduce orchard and vineyard water footprint and increase their resilience to drought.

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来源期刊

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 生物-植物科学

CiteScore

11.10

自引率

3.10%

发文量

410

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： Plant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes original theoretical, experimental and technical contributions in the various fields of plant physiology (biochemistry, physiology, structure, genetics, plant-microbe interactions, etc.) at diverse levels of integration (molecular, subcellular, cellular, organ, whole plant, environmental). Opinions expressed in the journal are the sole responsibility of the authors and publication does not imply the editors'' agreement. Manuscripts describing molecular-genetic and/or gene expression data that are not integrated with biochemical analysis and/or actual measurements of plant physiological processes are not suitable for PPB. Also "Omics" studies (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) reporting descriptive analysis without an element of functional validation assays, will not be considered. Similarly, applied agronomic or phytochemical studies that generate no new, fundamental insights in plant physiological and/or biochemical processes are not suitable for publication in PPB. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers. Articles for Reviews are either invited by the editor or proposed by the authors for the editor''s prior agreement. Reviews should not exceed 40 typewritten pages and Short Papers no more than approximately 8 typewritten pages. The fundamental character of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry remains that of a journal for original results.