Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels

The extracted residue of Polygonum cuspidatum (a valuable medicinal plant) rhizome is discarded as waste, while it is unclear whether returning this residue to the field would be beneficial for the growth and its active component production of P. cuspidatum. This study aimed to investigate the effec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lei Liu, Hong-Na Mu, Ze-Zhi Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1594905/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850155931047821312
author Lei Liu
Hong-Na Mu
Ze-Zhi Zhang
author_facet Lei Liu
Hong-Na Mu
Ze-Zhi Zhang
author_sort Lei Liu
collection DOAJ
description The extracted residue of Polygonum cuspidatum (a valuable medicinal plant) rhizome is discarded as waste, while it is unclear whether returning this residue to the field would be beneficial for the growth and its active component production of P. cuspidatum. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying P. cuspidatum residues (PRs) to the field on plant growth, photosynthetic activities, root indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) levels, active component (polydatin, resveratrol, and emodin) contents, and the expression of resveratrol-associated genes (PcRS and PcPKS1) in P. cuspidatum plants. The experiment comprised four treatments, namely, the application of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg/667 m2 and the application of PRs at rates of 1500 kg/667 m2 (PR1500), 2500 kg/667 m2 (PR2500), and 4000 kg/667 m2 (PR4000), along with a control (CK) receiving no additional substances. Two years later, the application of both the compound fertilizer and PR treatments led to substantial increases in plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, number of nodes on main stems, and aboveground (leaf, branch, and main stem) and root biomass production, depending on used doses of PRs applied. Among them, the PR2500 treatment exhibited the superior performance. Additionally, these treatments significantly boosted root IAA (11.0−41.7%) and ZR (17.8−46.0%) levels, with the PR2500 treatment demonstrating the highest efficacy. Root IAA and ZR levels were significantly (p < 0.01) positively correlated with root biomass. All treatments, except for PR4000, significantly elevated SPAD values, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration in leaves, with PR2500 showing the most pronounced improvements. Fertilization and PR treatments significantly boosted root polydatin (6.6−22.0%), emodin (12.1−43.3%), and resveratrol (17.8−69.3%, except for PR4000) levels, along with a significant up-regulation of PcRS expression and a significant down-regulation of PcPKS1 expression in roots. In short, organic amendments like PRs, particularly at a rate of 2500 kg/667 m2, can be a viable alternative to traditional fertilizers for enhancing the plant growth and its active component levels of P. cuspidatum, making them a cornerstone of eco-friendly farming practices and sustainable agriculture.
format Article
id doaj-art-3479d34a88a2407cbcdf9d0c2458016e
institution OA Journals
issn 1664-462X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-3479d34a88a2407cbcdf9d0c2458016e2025-08-20T02:24:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-04-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15949051594905Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levelsLei Liu0Hong-Na Mu1Ze-Zhi Zhang2College of Architecture and Design, Yangtze University College of Arts and Sciences, Jingzhou, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, ChinaShiyan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shiyan, ChinaThe extracted residue of Polygonum cuspidatum (a valuable medicinal plant) rhizome is discarded as waste, while it is unclear whether returning this residue to the field would be beneficial for the growth and its active component production of P. cuspidatum. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying P. cuspidatum residues (PRs) to the field on plant growth, photosynthetic activities, root indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) levels, active component (polydatin, resveratrol, and emodin) contents, and the expression of resveratrol-associated genes (PcRS and PcPKS1) in P. cuspidatum plants. The experiment comprised four treatments, namely, the application of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg/667 m2 and the application of PRs at rates of 1500 kg/667 m2 (PR1500), 2500 kg/667 m2 (PR2500), and 4000 kg/667 m2 (PR4000), along with a control (CK) receiving no additional substances. Two years later, the application of both the compound fertilizer and PR treatments led to substantial increases in plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, number of nodes on main stems, and aboveground (leaf, branch, and main stem) and root biomass production, depending on used doses of PRs applied. Among them, the PR2500 treatment exhibited the superior performance. Additionally, these treatments significantly boosted root IAA (11.0−41.7%) and ZR (17.8−46.0%) levels, with the PR2500 treatment demonstrating the highest efficacy. Root IAA and ZR levels were significantly (p < 0.01) positively correlated with root biomass. All treatments, except for PR4000, significantly elevated SPAD values, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration in leaves, with PR2500 showing the most pronounced improvements. Fertilization and PR treatments significantly boosted root polydatin (6.6−22.0%), emodin (12.1−43.3%), and resveratrol (17.8−69.3%, except for PR4000) levels, along with a significant up-regulation of PcRS expression and a significant down-regulation of PcPKS1 expression in roots. In short, organic amendments like PRs, particularly at a rate of 2500 kg/667 m2, can be a viable alternative to traditional fertilizers for enhancing the plant growth and its active component levels of P. cuspidatum, making them a cornerstone of eco-friendly farming practices and sustainable agriculture.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1594905/fullcompound fertilizerindole-3-acetic acidmedicinal plantpolydatinresveratrol
spellingShingle Lei Liu
Hong-Na Mu
Ze-Zhi Zhang
Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels
Frontiers in Plant Science
compound fertilizer
indole-3-acetic acid
medicinal plant
polydatin
resveratrol
title Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels
title_full Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels
title_fullStr Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels
title_full_unstemmed Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels
title_short Soil organic amendments with Polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth, leaf gas exchange, and bioactive component levels
title_sort soil organic amendments with polygonum cuspidatum residues enhance growth leaf gas exchange and bioactive component levels
topic compound fertilizer
indole-3-acetic acid
medicinal plant
polydatin
resveratrol
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1594905/full
work_keys_str_mv AT leiliu soilorganicamendmentswithpolygonumcuspidatumresiduesenhancegrowthleafgasexchangeandbioactivecomponentlevels
AT hongnamu soilorganicamendmentswithpolygonumcuspidatumresiduesenhancegrowthleafgasexchangeandbioactivecomponentlevels
AT zezhizhang soilorganicamendmentswithpolygonumcuspidatumresiduesenhancegrowthleafgasexchangeandbioactivecomponentlevels