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Background and aims <p>Masson pine (<i>Pinus massoniana</i>) is the principal reforestation conifer in southern China, but drought affects seedling cultivation. Although, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been widely applied to promote plant growth, and biochar has been shown to serve as both a microbial refuge and a slow-release nutrient reservoir that improves PGPR colonization and stress tolerance. However, the mechanistic basis underlying the synergistic effects of PGPR and biochar on drought-resistance traits in <i>Pinus</i> spp. remains poorly understood.</p> Methods <p>The present study first formulated a PGPR-based biochar agent and then integrated metagenomics with plant physiological analyses to elucidate how the agent modulates drought resistance in <i>P. massoniana</i> seedlings—translating rhizosphere microenvironmental changes into above-ground physiological responses.</p> Results <p>Coconut-shell biochar effectively immobilized the drought-tolerant PGPR (<i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> IP3), resulting in a 20% increase in cell density after 30&#xa0;days of storage. The co-application of biochar and PGPR significantly increased the seedling relative water content by 40.1% relative to the control under drought stress, while simultaneously reducing membrane lipid peroxidation, relative electrolyte leakage and needle damage. The biochar–PGPR agent enhanced both shoot and root growth, increased the net photosynthetic rate 7.4-fold, and raised POD activity by 74.2%, CAT activity by 66.3%, and proline content by 40.3% under drought stress. Meanwhile, the biochar–PGPR agent significantly improved soil nutrients, altered rhizosphere microbial composition and function, stimulated soil amino-acid and lipid metabolic pathways, and increased the relative abundances of the nutrient-cycling and biofilm-related genes.</p> Conclusion <p>Combined biochar-PGPR application enhanced drought tolerance in <i>P. massoniana</i> seedlings by regulating both physiological responses and rhizosphere microenvironment.</p>

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Biochar–PGPR combination modulates physiology and rhizosphere microenvironment to improve drought resistance of Pinus massoniana seedlings

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月3日

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  • Hongyun Xu,
  • Run Luo,
  • Wei Zhou,
  • Cun Yu

摘要

Background and aims

Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) is the principal reforestation conifer in southern China, but drought affects seedling cultivation. Although, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been widely applied to promote plant growth, and biochar has been shown to serve as both a microbial refuge and a slow-release nutrient reservoir that improves PGPR colonization and stress tolerance. However, the mechanistic basis underlying the synergistic effects of PGPR and biochar on drought-resistance traits in Pinus spp. remains poorly understood.

Methods

The present study first formulated a PGPR-based biochar agent and then integrated metagenomics with plant physiological analyses to elucidate how the agent modulates drought resistance in P. massoniana seedlings—translating rhizosphere microenvironmental changes into above-ground physiological responses.

Results

Coconut-shell biochar effectively immobilized the drought-tolerant PGPR (Bacillus thuringiensis IP3), resulting in a 20% increase in cell density after 30 days of storage. The co-application of biochar and PGPR significantly increased the seedling relative water content by 40.1% relative to the control under drought stress, while simultaneously reducing membrane lipid peroxidation, relative electrolyte leakage and needle damage. The biochar–PGPR agent enhanced both shoot and root growth, increased the net photosynthetic rate 7.4-fold, and raised POD activity by 74.2%, CAT activity by 66.3%, and proline content by 40.3% under drought stress. Meanwhile, the biochar–PGPR agent significantly improved soil nutrients, altered rhizosphere microbial composition and function, stimulated soil amino-acid and lipid metabolic pathways, and increased the relative abundances of the nutrient-cycling and biofilm-related genes.

Conclusion

Combined biochar-PGPR application enhanced drought tolerance in P. massoniana seedlings by regulating both physiological responses and rhizosphere microenvironment.