Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle

Despite substantial evidence suggesting that hydrogen gas (H<sub>2</sub>) can enhance osmotic tolerance in plants, the conventional supply method of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) poses challenges for large-scale agricultural applications. Recently, magnesium hydride (MgH<sub>2</sub&...

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Main Authors: Yihua Zhang, Xing Lu, Wenrong Yao, Xiaoqing Cheng, Qiao Wang, Yu Feng, Wenbiao Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2819
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author Yihua Zhang
Xing Lu
Wenrong Yao
Xiaoqing Cheng
Qiao Wang
Yu Feng
Wenbiao Shen
author_facet Yihua Zhang
Xing Lu
Wenrong Yao
Xiaoqing Cheng
Qiao Wang
Yu Feng
Wenbiao Shen
author_sort Yihua Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Despite substantial evidence suggesting that hydrogen gas (H<sub>2</sub>) can enhance osmotic tolerance in plants, the conventional supply method of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) poses challenges for large-scale agricultural applications. Recently, magnesium hydride (MgH<sub>2</sub>), a hydrogen storage material in industry, has been reported to yield beneficial effects in plants. This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of MgH<sub>2</sub> in plants under osmotic stress. Mung bean seedlings were cultured under control conditions or with 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000, with or without MgH<sub>2</sub> addition (0.01 g L<sup>−1</sup>). Under our experimental conditions, the MgH<sub>2</sub> solution maintained a higher H<sub>2</sub> content and longer retention time than HRW. Importantly, PEG-stimulated endogenous H<sub>2</sub> production was further triggered by MgH<sub>2</sub> application. Further results revealed that MgH<sub>2</sub> significantly alleviated the inhibition of seedling growth and reduced oxidative damage induced by osmotic stress. Pharmacological evidence suggests the MgH<sub>2</sub>-reestablished redox homeostasis was associated with activated antioxidant systems, particularly the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. The above observations were further supported by the enhanced activities and gene transcriptional levels of ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of MgH<sub>2</sub> in mitigating osmotic stress in mung bean seedlings, providing novel insights into the potential agricultural applications of hydrogen storage materials.
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spelling doaj-art-2f34fbab29f2416eafa1449d0f95360c2025-08-20T01:47:37ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-10-011319281910.3390/plants13192819Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione CycleYihua Zhang0Xing Lu1Wenrong Yao2Xiaoqing Cheng3Qiao Wang4Yu Feng5Wenbiao Shen6College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaDespite substantial evidence suggesting that hydrogen gas (H<sub>2</sub>) can enhance osmotic tolerance in plants, the conventional supply method of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) poses challenges for large-scale agricultural applications. Recently, magnesium hydride (MgH<sub>2</sub>), a hydrogen storage material in industry, has been reported to yield beneficial effects in plants. This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of MgH<sub>2</sub> in plants under osmotic stress. Mung bean seedlings were cultured under control conditions or with 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000, with or without MgH<sub>2</sub> addition (0.01 g L<sup>−1</sup>). Under our experimental conditions, the MgH<sub>2</sub> solution maintained a higher H<sub>2</sub> content and longer retention time than HRW. Importantly, PEG-stimulated endogenous H<sub>2</sub> production was further triggered by MgH<sub>2</sub> application. Further results revealed that MgH<sub>2</sub> significantly alleviated the inhibition of seedling growth and reduced oxidative damage induced by osmotic stress. Pharmacological evidence suggests the MgH<sub>2</sub>-reestablished redox homeostasis was associated with activated antioxidant systems, particularly the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. The above observations were further supported by the enhanced activities and gene transcriptional levels of ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of MgH<sub>2</sub> in mitigating osmotic stress in mung bean seedlings, providing novel insights into the potential agricultural applications of hydrogen storage materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2819osmotic stressmagnesium hydridehydrogen gasantioxidant systemsascorbate–glutathione cyclemung bean
spellingShingle Yihua Zhang
Xing Lu
Wenrong Yao
Xiaoqing Cheng
Qiao Wang
Yu Feng
Wenbiao Shen
Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle
Plants
osmotic stress
magnesium hydride
hydrogen gas
antioxidant systems
ascorbate–glutathione cycle
mung bean
title Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle
title_full Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle
title_fullStr Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle
title_full_unstemmed Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle
title_short Magnesium Hydride Confers Osmotic Tolerance in Mung Bean Seedlings by Promoting Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle
title_sort magnesium hydride confers osmotic tolerance in mung bean seedlings by promoting ascorbate glutathione cycle
topic osmotic stress
magnesium hydride
hydrogen gas
antioxidant systems
ascorbate–glutathione cycle
mung bean
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2819
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