Solid and modified biochars mitigate root cell lignification and improve nutrients uptake in mint plants under fluoride and cadmium stresses

Abstract

Lignification is a physiological process that reduces pollutants' entrance into plant root cells via blocking apoplastic pathways. The closure of apoplastic pathways can also decrease the nutrients’ uptake by roots. Application of biochar as an efficient soil amendment might be useful in increasing nutrients influx into root cells by decreasing lignification. Therefore, this experiment was performed to examine the conceivable effects of biochar forms [solid and chemically altered biochars with H2O2, KOH and H3PO4 (25 g biochar forms kg−1 soil)] on modifying lignification process and nutrients uptake by mint (Mentha crispa L.) plants under toxicity of cadmium and fluoride. The biochar treatments boosted plant root growth and activity as well as the real content and maximum sorption capacity of Zn, Fe, Mg, and Ca under stressful conditions. In contrast, biochar treatments increased root cell viability and reduced fluoride and cadmium contents, and oxidative damages under stressful conditions. The biochar treatments decreased the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase enzymes under toxic conditions, which led to a decrease in the contents of lignin and its monomers (p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, guaiacyl, and syringaldehyde) in the roots. Solid biochar was less effective than engineered biochars in reducing root cell lignification. Therefore, addition of biochar forms to the soil could be an effective way to reduce root cell lignification and enhance nutrients uptake by plants under cadmium and fluoride toxicities.