Molybdenum-induced effects on leaf ultra-structure and rhizosphere phosphorus transformation in Triticum aestivum L

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 153; pp. 20 - 29
• Main Authors: Rana, Muhammad Shoaib, Sun, Xuecheng, Imran, Muhammad, Ali, Shafaqat, Shaaban, Muhammad, Moussa, Mohamed G., Khan, Zaid, Afzal, Javaria, Binyamin, Rana, Bhantana, Parashuram, Alam, Mufid, Din, Intisar Ud, Younas, Muhammad, Hu, Chengxiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.08.2020
• Subjects: Acid phosphatase; Leaf ultra-structures; Molybdenum; P enzyme genes; P fractions; Rhizosphere; Wheat; P enzyme genes; P fractions; Rhizosphere; Molybdenum; Wheat; Acid phosphatase; Leaf ultra-structures
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.05.010

Soil phosphorus (P) occurs in pools of lower availability due to soil P fixation and therefore, it is a key constrain to crop production. Long term molybdenum-induced effects in wheat and rhizosphere/non-rhizosphere soil P dynamics have not yet been investigated. Here, a long term field experiment was conducted to explore these effects in wheat consisting of two treatments i.e. with molybdenum (+Mo) and without molybdenum (-Mo). The results revealed that molybdenum (Mo) supply increased plant biomass, grain yield, P uptake, preserved the configuration of chloroplast, stomata, and mesophyll tissue cells, suggesting the complementary effects of Mo on wheat yield and P accumulation. During the periods of vegetative growth, soil organic carbon, organic matter, and microbial biomass P were higher and tended to decrease in rhizosphere soil at maturity stage. In +Mo treatment, the most available P fractions [H2O-Pi (16.2–22.9 mg/kg and 4.24–7.57 mg/kg) and NaHCO3-Pi (130–149 mg/kg and 77.2–88 mg/kg)] were significantly increased in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, respectively. In addition, the +Mo treatment significantly increased the acid phosphatase activity and the expression of phoN/phoC, aphA, olpA/lppC gene transcripts in rhizosphere soil compared to -Mo. Our research findings suggested that Mo application has increased P availability not only through biochemical and chemical changes in rhizosphere but also through P assimilation and induced effects in the leaf ultra-structures. So, it might be a strategy of long term Mo fertilizer supply to overcome the P scarcity in plants and rhizosphere soil. •Mo supply preserved the leaf ultrastructure through improved P assimilation.•The activity of P enzyme increased in rhizosphere soil in response to Mo application.•Mo application increased the soil P availability through biochemical changes.