Treatments with Liquid Smoke and Certain Chemical Constituents Prevalent in Smoke Reduce Phloem Vascular Sectoriality in the Sunflower with Improvement to Growth

Abstract

Many higher plants possess a physiological organization that is based upon the carbon economy of their parts. While photosynthates are partitioned according to the relative strength of the plant’s sink tissues, in many species there is also a very close relationship between partitioning, phyllotaxy and vascular connectivity giving rise to sectorial patterns of allocation. Here, we examined the influence of smoke and certain chemical constituents prevalent in smoke including, catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone on phloem vascular sectoriality in common sunflower (Helianthis annuus L.), as a model plant for sectoriality. By administering radioactive carbon-11 to a single source leaf as 11CO2, 11C-photosynthate allocation patterns were examined using autoradiography. A 1:200 aqueous dilution of liquid smoke treated soil caused 2.6-fold and 2.5-fold reductions in phloem sectoriality in sink leaves and roots, respectively. Treatment with catechol (1,2-d ihydroxybenzene) or resorcinol (1,3-dihydroxybenzene), polyphenolic constituents that are prevalent in smoke, caused similar reductions in phloem sectoriality in the same targeted sink tissues. However, treatment with hydroquinone (1,4-dihydroxybenzene) had no effect. Finally, the longer-term effects of smoke exposure on plant growth and performance were examined using outdoor potted plants grown over the 2022 season. Plants exposed to liquid smoke treatments of the soil on a weekly basis had larger thicker leaves possessing 35% greater lignin content than untreated control plants. They also had thicker stems although the lignin content was the same as controls. Additionally, plants exposed to treatment produced twice the number of flowers with no difference in their disk floret diameters as untreated controls. Altogether, loss of phloem sectoriality from exposure to liquid smoke in the sunflower model benefited plant performance.

Impact of Resorcinol and Biochar Application on the Growth Attributes, Metabolite Contents, and Antioxidant Systems of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

“…Khaleda et al and Bhardwaj et al confirmed similar results with seedlings of alfalfa and wheat. The root exhibited a similar pattern of elongation. , However, these findings contradict those of Noel et al, who studied the influence of phenolic chemicals in common sunflowers . Catechol and resorcinol treatments reduced the taproot length by 7.7-fold and 3.3-fold, respectively, although hydroquinone treatment had no impact on root attributes.…”

“…42,72 However, these findings contradict those of Noel et al, who studied the influence of phenolic chemicals in common sunflowers. 46 Catechol and resorcinol treatments reduced the taproot length by 7.7-fold and 3.3-fold, respectively, although hydroquinone treatment had no impact on root attributes. Plants treated with 30 mg/L of biochar showed enhanced shoot length (16.3 cm) and root length (3.97 cm) and increased fresh (4.65 g) and dry (1.84 g) weights compared to the control group, which had shorter shoot and root lengths (10.09 and 2.26 cm, respectively) and lower fresh (2.86 g) and dry (0.98 g) weights.…”

“…This chemical and its derivatives are used in a wide range of applications, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anticonvulsant, and antioxidant properties. − From various plants and microorganisms, different derivatives of resorcinol, like 2-hexyl,5-propyl resorcinol (HPR), ethyl (6′ R )-2,4-dihydroxy-6-(6′-hydroxyheptyl) benzoate, isobutyl (6′ R )-2,4-dihydroxy-6-(6′-hydroxyheptyl) benzoate, 2-methyl-5-( Z -heptadec-8-enyl) resorcinol, 5-(Z-heptadec-8-enyl), and so many had been isolated various authors. − Numerous authors have studied the effects of other phenolic benzenediol compounds like catechol (1,2-benzenediol) and hydroquinone (1,4-benzenediol) on the growth, osmolytes, and antioxidant activity of lemongrass, soybean, alfalfa, and lupine plants. − Limited research is available regarding the effects of resorcinol on plant vegetative and reproductive parameters in soybean, tobacco, and sunflower. However, no information on its osmolytic and antioxidant actions is available. − …”

Radiocarbon Flux Measurements Provide Insight into Why a Pyroligneous Acid Product Stimulates Plant Growth

“…However, the question remains whether certain organic substrates present within pyroligneous acid products can facilitate the sequestering and plant uptake of soil Mn, beneficially affecting chlorophyll biosynthesis. Our past studies have shown that certain polyphenolics present in a pyroligneous acid product in high abundance, namely resorcinol (1,2-dihyroxybenzene) and catechol (1,3-dihydroxybenzene) can alter vascular connectivity within live plants [66], suggesting that these substances are actively taken up by the plant. The pyroligneous acid product, Coriphol™, which we examined in the present study had a 10.76% relative abundance of dihydroxybenzenes in the organic content (Supplementary Table S1).…”