Article: Effect of biochar on rice starch properties and starch-related gene expression and enzyme activities

We determined the effects of biochar on starch properties and the activities of enzymes and expression levels of genes related to starch in two Japonica rice cultivars. The two rice varieties were subjected to five biochar treatments (0, control; and 5, 10, 20, and 40 t/hm). In both rice varieties, the content of apparent amylose and resistant starch were lower in biochar treatments than in the control. The proportion of fa chains was higher and that of fb3 chain was lower in the biochar treatments than in the control. Starch viscosity and cooking taste quality were improved by the biochar treatments. In both rice varieties, the activity of granule-bound starch synthase was significantly decreased by biochar treatments, and the activities of soluble starch synthase, starch branching enzyme, and starch debranching enzyme were significantly increased. The transcript levels of genes encoding starch synthases and starch branching enzymes were significantly increased by biochar treatments. We conclude that biochar at a dose of 5-10 t/hm can regulate the activity of starch-related enzymes, and this affects the type, content, and fine structure of starch. Therefore, the addition of biochar to soil can improve the viscosity and taste quality of rice starch.

Citing Articles

Genome-Wide Identification of microRNAs Associated with Starch Biosynthesis and Endosperm Development in Foxtail Millet.

Li Q, Li D, Guo S, Yu X Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(17).

PMID: 39273232 PMC: 11395324. DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179282.

Biochar Improves Yield by Reducing Saline-Alkaline Stress, Enhancing Filling Rate of Rice in Soda Saline-Alkaline Paddy Fields.

Che W, Li X, Piao J, Zhang Y, Miao S, Wang H Plants (Basel). 2024; 13(16).

PMID: 39204674 PMC: 11360614. DOI: 10.3390/plants13162237.

Improving Rice Grain Quality Through Ecotype Breeding for Enhancing Food and Nutritional Security in Asia-Pacific Region.

Alam M, Lou G, Abbas W, Osti R, Ahmad A, Bista S Rice (N Y). 2024; 17(1):47.

PMID: 39102064 PMC: 11300782. DOI: 10.1186/s12284-024-00725-9.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Starch Synthase Gene Family in Sweet Potato and Two of Its Closely Related Species.

Sun Z, Li Z, Lin X, Hu Z, Jiang M, Tang B Genes (Basel). 2024; 15(4).

PMID: 38674335 PMC: 11049646. DOI: 10.3390/genes15040400.

Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilizer Change the Quality of Waxy and Non-Waxy Broomcorn Millet ( L.) Starch.

Zhang M, Mukhamed B, Yang Q, Luo Y, Tian L, Yuan Y Foods. 2023; 12(16).

PMID: 37628008 PMC: 10453922. DOI: 10.3390/foods12163009.

References

1.

Nakamura Y, Aihara S, Crofts N, Sawada T, Fujita N . In vitro studies of enzymatic properties of starch synthases and interactions between starch synthase I and starch branching enzymes from rice. Plant Sci. 2014; 224:1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.03.021. View

2.

Fujita N, Yoshida M, Kondo T, Saito K, Utsumi Y, Tokunaga T . Characterization of SSIIIa-deficient mutants of rice: the function of SSIIIa and pleiotropic effects by SSIIIa deficiency in the rice endosperm. Plant Physiol. 2007; 144(4):2009-23. PMC: 1949899. DOI: 10.1104/pp.107.102533. View

3.

Rajeevan M, Ranamukhaarachchi D, Vernon S, Unger E . Use of real-time quantitative PCR to validate the results of cDNA array and differential display PCR technologies. Methods. 2002; 25(4):443-51. DOI: 10.1006/meth.2001.1266. View

4.

Li H, Prakash S, Nicholson T, Fitzgerald M, Gilbert R . The importance of amylose and amylopectin fine structure for textural properties of cooked rice grains. Food Chem. 2015; 196:702-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.09.112. View

5.

Nakamura S, Cui J, Zhang X, Yang F, Xu X, Sheng H . Comparison of eating quality and physicochemical properties between Japanese and Chinese rice cultivars. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2016; 80(12):2437-2449. DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1220823. View

Effect of Biochar on Rice Starch Properties and Starch-related Gene Expression and Enzyme Activities