Hydrogen Applications in Plant Stress Tolerance
Summary
Hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a versatile agent in enhancing plant resilience to a range of abiotic stresses. Acting as an antioxidant and signalling molecule, H2 modulates redox homeostasis by scavenging reactive oxygen species and upregulating antioxidant enzymes. It interacts with phytohormone pathways to regulate stress-responsive gene expression and ion transporters, thereby maintaining water status and ion balance under drought, salinity and heavy metal exposure. Delivery methods such as hydrogen-rich water, nanobubble irrigation and solid-state hydrogen donors facilitate efficient uptake and prolonged H2 availability. In addition to improving growth and stress tolerance, these approaches offer postharvest benefits by delaying senescence and preserving quality. Together, these findings underscore the global significance of H2-based technologies for sustainable agriculture amid climate change and environmental pollution.
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Hydrogen Applications in Plant Stress Tolerance publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hydrogen applications in plant stress tolerance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage cellular components under stress.
Nanobubble Technology: Method to generate nanoscale gas bubbles in water, enhancing gas solubility and stability for plant delivery.
Hydrogen-rich Water (HRW): Aqueous solution saturated with molecular hydrogen, used to supply H2 to plants.
Adventitious Root: Root that forms from non-root tissues, often stimulated under stress to improve water and nutrient uptake.
Osmotic Adjustment Substances: Solutes such as sugars or amino acids accumulated by plants to maintain cell turgor under osmotic stress.
References
- Enhancing tomato fruit antioxidant potential through hydrogen nanobubble irrigation. Horticulture Research (2024).
- Carbon Monoxide Is Involved in Hydrogen Gas-Induced Adventitious Root Development in Cucumber under Simulated Drought Stress. Frontiers in Plant Science (2017).
- Hydrogen gas promotes the adventitious rooting in cucumber under cadmium stress. PLOS ONE (2019).
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