The role of oilseed press cake extracts in regulating photosynthesis, water management, and the antioxidant system in winter wheat and winter rye under soil drought conditions

The role of oilseed press cake extracts in regulating photosynthesis, water management, and the antioxidant system in winter wheat and winter rye under soil drought conditions

Project budget: 48 974 zł

Lead time: 2025 - 2026

Project description:

Cereals represent the most significant group of crops in the world in terms of area cultivated, yet their stable production is increasingly threatened by soil droughts, heat waves and growing variability in precipitation. Consequently, research on the resistance of cereals to abiotic stresses and the stability of their yields is becoming increasingly important. A strategy that shows promise in supporting sustainable agriculture is the use of natural biostimulants, such as plant extracts obtained from, among other sources, by-products of the agri-food industry. The objective of the proposed preliminary study is to evaluate the impact of extracts from the pomace (press cake) of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) and black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), which are abundant in phenolic compounds, on the antioxidant response and the functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) under conditions of soil drought stress. The extracts in question are distinguished by their high antioxidant activity, a property that is attributable to the presence of phenolic compounds, including quercetin, catechin, gallic acid, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid. Consequently, they are considered a promising source of biostimulants in agricultural contexts. Phenolic compounds have been shown to neutralise reactive oxygen species and stabilise cellular structures, in addition to exhibiting an osmoprotective effect and regulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The limited research conducted to date suggests a beneficial effect of exogenously applied phenolic compounds (including phenolic acids and quercetin) on the physiological parameters of wheat. However, the existing literature remains deficient in terms of studies examining the use of pomace extracts in the context of cereal responses to drought, with specific reference to wheat and rye. The pilot studies will include the preparation of extracts from oilseed pomace using various methods (maceration, ultrasonic extraction) and the assessment of the effect of their concentrations on the growth and condition of wheat and winter rye seedlings after seed treatment or seedling spraying. Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigment content, phenolic compounds and photosystem II activity will be assessed. A selected number of extracts will undergo a qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, and their effect on the antioxidant system, the photosynthetic apparatus of plants, and the mass and microstructure of cuticular waxes under conditions of soil drought will be assessed. The preliminary studies will identify the extracts from pomace that demonstrate the greatest biostimulating potential in terms of the antioxidant response and functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat and rye plants during soil drought stress. The results obtained will fill an important research gap and may form the basis for the development of innovative, environmentally friendly strategies to support cereals in drought conditions.