Kamran Atif, Naveed Irzam, Jahan Summera, Komal Lubaba, Siddiqui Manzer H, Alamri Saud, Khalil Arij
Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan.
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 22;15(1):30862. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-04747-1.
Boron is a critical yet poorly understood micronutrient, especially regarding its transport within plant leaves. Little research has been done to enhance the bioavailability of Boron in rice using organic compounds like fulvic acid for better nutrient quality and yield. While fulvic acid (FA) is well-known for enhancing the mobility of metallic nutrients like iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), however, its role in facilitating Boron, a metalloid, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of FA in mediating Boron transport to improve grain quality and yield in Basmati rice. A field trial was conducted using a randomized complete block design (13 × 24 ft²), applying foliar treatments of Boron alone and Boron combined with FA at critical growth stages (tillering and panicle formation). The study assessed the impact of these treatments on rice morpho-physiological parameters, grain yield and leaf Boron content. The results revealed that both foliar treatments significantly improved yield and leaf Boron content over control. However, the promising results were obtained in response to boron's only application. Boron application (T2) significantly increased number of tillers (41%), chlorophyll content (55%), 1000 grain weight (32%), Boron content (131%) and yield per plot (43) as compared to control (T1). While combined application Boron + FA (T3) substantially enhanced number of tillers (34%), fertile florets per panicle (23%), Boron content (46%) and yield per plot (33%) over control (T1). The present findings suggest that Boron foliar application enhances grain weight, yield, and rice quality while reducing panicle sterility. However, FA did not significantly mediate Boron uptake in rice, indicating limited interaction between FA and this non-metallic micronutrient.
硼是一种关键但却鲜为人知的微量营养素，尤其是在其在植物叶片内的运输方面。利用诸如黄腐酸等有机化合物来提高水稻中硼的生物有效性以改善营养品质和产量的研究很少。虽然黄腐酸（FA）以提高铁（Fe）和锌（Zn）等金属养分的移动性而闻名，然而，其在促进类金属硼的移动方面所起的作用仍不清楚。因此，本研究旨在评估黄腐酸在介导硼运输以提高巴斯马蒂水稻的籽粒品质和产量方面的潜力。采用随机完全区组设计（13×24平方英尺）进行了田间试验，在关键生长阶段（分蘖期和穗形成期）进行了单独喷施硼以及硼与黄腐酸组合的叶面处理。该研究评估了这些处理对水稻形态生理参数、籽粒产量和叶片硼含量的影响。结果表明，两种叶面处理均显著提高了产量和叶片硼含量，超过了对照。然而，仅施用硼获得了令人满意的结果。与对照（T1）相比，施用硼（T2）显著增加了分蘖数（41%）、叶绿素含量（55%）、千粒重（32%）、硼含量（131%）和每块地的产量（43）。而硼与黄腐酸组合施用（T3）比分蘖数（34%）、每穗实粒数（23%）、硼含量（46%）和每块地的产量（33%）显著高于对照（T1）。目前的研究结果表明，叶面喷施硼可提高粒重、产量和水稻品质，同时降低穗部不育率。然而，黄腐酸并未显著介导水稻对硼的吸收，表明黄腐酸与这种非金属微量营养素之间的相互作用有限。
