Roosta Hamid Reza, Estaji Ahmad, Khadivi Ali, Shams Mostafakamal
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, 38156-8-8349, Iran.
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 14;15(1):25404. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-11181-w.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is a high-value medicinal crop; its slow soil-based cultivation limits yield and risks root loss or contamination. We evaluated how nitrogen form [nitrate (NO⁻), ammonium (NH⁺), and ammonium nitrate (NHNO)] affects licorice physiology in four culture systems: aeroponic, nutrient film technique (NFT), substrate hydroponics (cocopeat: perlite 1:1), and soil. Seedlings (21 days old, 10 cm tall) were transferred into each system in a completely randomized design with three replications and fertigated with modified Hoagland solution (10 mM total N) from day 80 to harvest at day 120. We measured root and shoot Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu by atomic absorption spectroscopy; chlorophyll fluorescence indices (F Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm, PI, PI) using a Pocket PEA fluorimeter; and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities spectrophotometrically. Across all systems, NHNO-fed plants showed the highest root and shoot micronutrient concentrations, maximal PSII photochemical efficiency (F/F), and performance indices (PI, PI). Sole NH₄⁺ reduced chlorophyll fluorescence parameters but induced the greatest SOD and CAT activities, indicating oxidative stress. NO₃⁻ alone produced intermediate responses, while differences between NH₄NO₃ and NO were modest, suggesting that mixed nutrition stabilizes pH and energy balance during assimilation.Our findings support the hypothesis that balanced NH₄⁺:NO₃⁻ nutrition enhances photosynthetic efficiency, micronutrient uptake, and antioxidant capacity in licorice irrespective of the cultivation system. Implementing combined N fertilization in soilless and soil systems can accelerate licorice production and improve root quality for pharmaceutical use.
甘草（Glycyrrhiza glabra L.）是一种高价值的药用作物；其基于土壤的缓慢栽培限制了产量，并存在根系损失或污染的风险。我们评估了氮形态[硝酸盐（NO⁻）、铵（NH⁺）和硝酸铵（NHNO）]如何在四种栽培系统中影响甘草的生理特性：气培法、营养液膜技术（NFT）、基质水培法（椰糠：珍珠岩1:1）和土壤栽培。将21日龄、10厘米高的幼苗以完全随机设计转移到每个系统中，重复三次，并在第80天至第120天收获期间用改良的霍格兰溶液（总氮10 mM）进行施肥灌溉。我们通过原子吸收光谱法测量根和地上部的铁、锰、锌和铜；使用袖珍PEA荧光计测量叶绿素荧光指数（F Fm、Fv、Fv/Fm、PI、PI）；并通过分光光度法测量超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性。在所有系统中，施用硝酸铵的植株根和地上部的微量营养素浓度最高，最大PSII光化学效率（F/F）和性能指数（PI、PI）也最高。单独施用铵离子降低了叶绿素荧光参数，但诱导了最大的SOD和CAT活性，表明存在氧化应激。单独施用硝酸盐产生的反应居中，而硝酸铵和硝酸盐之间的差异较小，这表明混合营养在同化过程中稳定了pH值和能量平衡。我们的研究结果支持以下假设：无论栽培系统如何，平衡的铵离子：硝酸根营养可提高甘草的光合效率、微量营养素吸收和抗氧化能力。在无土和土壤系统中实施联合氮肥施用可以加速甘草生产，并提高药用根的质量。
