Hydrogen-rich water: a key player in boosting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling growth and drought resilience

Abstract

In the modern world, wheat, a vital global cereal and the second most consumed, is vulnerable to climate change impacts. These include erratic rainfall and extreme temperatures, endangering global food security. Research on hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has gained momentum in plant and agricultural sciences due to its diverse functions. This study examined the effects of different HRW treatment durations on wheat, revealing that the 4-h treatment had the highest germination rate, enhancing potential, vigor, and germination indexes. This treatment also boosted relative water content, root and shoot weight, and average lengths. Moreover, the 4-h HRW treatment resulted in the highest chlorophyll and soluble protein concentrations in seeds while reducing cell death. The 4-h and 5-h HRW treatments significantly increased H2O2 levels, with the highest NO detected in both root and shoot after 4-h HRW exposure. Additionally, HRW-treated seeds exhibited increased Zn and Fe concentrations, along with antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, APX) in roots and shoots. These findings suggest that HRW treatment could enhance wheat seed germination, growth, and nutrient absorption, thereby increasing agricultural productivity. Molecular analysis indicated significant upregulation of the Dreb1 gene with a 4-h HRW treatment. Thus, it shows promise in addressing climate change effects on wheat production. Therefore, HRW treatment could be a hopeful strategy for enhancing wheat plant drought tolerance, requiring further investigation (field experiments) to validate its impact on plant growth and drought stress mitigation.

Early Detection of Drought Stress in Durum Wheat Using Hyperspectral Imaging and Photosystem Sensing

“…Additionally, the impact of drought stress on wheat germination and growth, as seen in the notable RWC decline from the Early to Mid stages in our study, is corroborated by similar findings in other research [53]. On the other hand, our findings contrast with a study that found variable responses to PEG-induced drought stress among different bread wheat genotypes, suggesting there is no uniform response pattern across genotypes in the initial stages of stress [54]. This is complemented by another study [55], which shows that drought-tolerant wheat genotypes have developed more efficient adaptive strategies, such as deeper root systems and higher biomass, indicating a diverse range of drought responses extending beyond our initial observations.…”