Effects of organic molecules from biochar-extracted liquor on the growth of rice seedlings.

There are many reports indicating that biochar can promote growth; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. The aim of this study was to show that organic molecules from biochar-extracted liquor affect the growth of rice seedlings. In this study, rice seedlings were cultured under water. Agronomic traits and growth-related genes and proteins were used as markers to describe more precisely the effects of biochar on specific growth parameters of rice seedlings. Our results demonstrated that the 3% biochar-extracted liquor amendment clearly promoted growth. The growth-related gene auxin binding protein 1 and its encoded protein were up-regulated. Molecular simulations revealed that 2-acetyl-5-methylfuran from biochar-extracted liquor could interact with auxin binding protein 1 in a similar way to indoleacetic acid binding. The growth of rice seedlings was therefore affected by biochar-extracted liquor, which acted on the ABP1 signalling pathway.