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Biochar as a Soil Amendment: Unraveling Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Plant Growth Promotion via Gene Expression and Regulatory Networks

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 2694

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada
2. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, and College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Interests: environment; soil chemistry; biochar; microplastics; greenhouse gas emissions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biochar has gained recognition as a sustainable soil amendment with the potential to enhance plant productivity and soil quality. Beyond its known effects on soil physicochemical properties and microbial dynamics, recent studies have revealed that biochar can influence plant growth at the molecular level. This Special Issue invites contributions that investigate how biochar alters gene expression profiles, hormone signaling pathways, and regulatory networks in plants. Of particular interest are studies exploring biochar’s role in modulating transcription factors, stress-responsive genes, nutrient transporter activity, and phytohormone biosynthesis. Omics-based approaches such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are encouraged to provide mechanistic insights. The Issue also welcomes interdisciplinary research that connects soil chemistry, biochar characteristics, and rhizosphere interactions with downstream molecular responses in plants. Together, these contributions will help clarify how biochar mediates plant growth and stress resilience through molecular and genetic regulation.

Dr. Kumuduni Palansuriya
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • biochar
  • soil amendment
  • plant growth promotion
  • soil health
  • soil fertility
  • nutrient availability
  • rhizosphere interactions
  • agricultural productivity
  • sustainable soil management
  • organic amendments

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 5025 KB  
Review
Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Biochar as Drought Defense Tools: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Future Directions
by Faezeh Parastesh, Behnam Asgari Lajayer and Bernard Dell
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(12), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47121040 - 12 Dec 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2254
Abstract
Drought stress, exacerbated by climate change, is a serious threat to global food security. This review examines the synergistic potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biochar as a sustainable strategy for enhancing crop drought resilience. Biochar’s porous structure creates a protective “charosphere” [...] Read more.
Drought stress, exacerbated by climate change, is a serious threat to global food security. This review examines the synergistic potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biochar as a sustainable strategy for enhancing crop drought resilience. Biochar’s porous structure creates a protective “charosphere” microhabitat, enhancing PGPR colonization and survival. This partnership, in turn, induces multifaceted plant responses through: (1) the modulation of key phytohormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (via 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity), and auxins; (2) improved nutrient solubilization and uptake; and (3) the activation of robust antioxidant defense systems. These physiological benefits are orchestrated by a profound reprogramming of the plant transcriptome, which shifts the plant’s expression profile from a stressed to a resilient state by upregulating key genes (e.g., Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding protein (DREB), Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll B-binding protein (LHCB), Plasma membrane Intrinsic Proteins (PIPs)) and downregulating stress-senescence markers. To realize a climate-resilient farming future, research must be strategically directed toward customizing biochar–PGPR combinations, validating their long-term performance in agronomic environments, and uncovering the molecular bases of their action. Full article
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