Nanoscale‑boron nitride positively alters rhizosphere microbial communities and subsequent cucumber (Cucumis sativa) growth: A metagenomic analysis

Xinxin Xu; Yi Hao; Zeyu Cai; Yini Cao; Weili Jia; Jian Zhao; Jason C White; Chuanxin Ma

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178115

Nanoscale‑boron nitride positively alters rhizosphere microbial communities and subsequent cucumber (Cucumis sativa) growth: A metagenomic analysis

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Dec 18:958:178115. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178115. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xinxin Xu¹, Yi Hao¹, Zeyu Cai¹, Yini Cao², Weili Jia³, Jian Zhao⁴, Jason C White⁵, Chuanxin Ma⁶

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environmental and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
² Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.
³ SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: weili.jia@m.scnu.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
⁵ The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06504, United States.
⁶ Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environmental and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: chuanxin.ma@gdut.edu.cn.

PMID: 39700995
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178115

Abstract

Boron (B) deficiency affects over 132 crop species globally, making effective B supplement crucial for enhancing agricultural yield and health. This study explores an innovative application of nanoscale boron nitride (nano-BN) as a sustainable solution for addressing B deficiency in crops. Cucumber seedlings were treated with different contents of nano-BN under greenhouse conditions and both B and N ionic treatments were set as comparisons. Results show that soil application of 10 mg/kg nano-BN achieved a remarkable 15.8 % increase in fresh weight compared to the control. Notably, nano-BN exhibited superior efficiency in providing essential micronutrients without inducing toxicity as compared to traditional ionic B sources. Phytohormone correlation analysis reveals that nano-BN application significantly enhances levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinins while reducing abscisic acid (ABA), fostering optimal plant growth conditions. Furthermore, increases in dissolved organic matter (DOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels in the rhizosphere improve nutrient availability and promote beneficial microbial activity in the soil as affected by nano-BN. Metagenomics techniques were used to investigate the impact of nano-BN on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, alongside its effects on the soil microbiome. The upregulation of genes associated with fermentation pathways as affected by nano-BN suggests the enhanced carbon cycling. Additionally, nano-BN upregulated a number of functional genes involved in nitrogen-based processes, leading to a significant increase in microorganisms harboring nitrogen-fixing genes, including Phenylobacterium, Novosphingobium, and Reyranella. Overall, these findings provide valuable insight into the application of nano-BN in agriculture to sustainably increase crop productivity and enhance the efficiency of carbon and nitrogen cycling.

Keywords: Metagenomic analysis; Nanoscale boron nitride; Phytohormone network; Rhizosphere; Soil enzyme activity.