The agricultural sector faces the challenge of sustainably increasing food production to meet the demands of a growing global population. A promising approach is the use of integrated nutrient management systems that combine chemical and biological fertilizers to reduce reliance on agrochemicals. In a study published in Discover Nano, Sakina Bibi, Rehman Ullah, and their colleagues explored the combined effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungiThese are friendly fungi that form a partnership with plant roots. They act like an extension of the root system, helping plants access water and nutrients more effectively. Biochar can create a cozy habitat for these helpful fungi, boosting their growth and improving plant health.   More (AMF), biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More, nanobiochar, and resorcinol on the growth and physiological characteristics of two tomato varieties, Saaho and Lerica. Their research highlights how these biostimulants can work together to enhance plant health and productivity.

The study found that a combination of treatments, particularly T13 (AMF + biochar + nanobiochar), significantly improved both vegetative and reproductive parameters in tomato plants. For instance, treatment T13 boosted shoot length to 109.57±0.88 cm in Saaho and 103.00±0.93 cm in Lerica, a substantial increase compared to the control group’s root length of 10.93±0.29 cm. Root length also saw a significant increase under T13, reaching 21.89±0.21 cm in Saaho and 21.40±0.20 cm in Lerica. This treatment also led to a notable enhancement in shoot fresh and dry weight, as well as an improvement in the number of fresh leaves per plant.

Seed germination parameters were also positively affected by the treatments. Resorcinol-primed seeds, either alone or combined with nanobiochar, showed a significant improvement in germination rate index (GRI), emergence energy (EE), and final germination percentage (FGP). For instance, the Saaho variety achieved a 100% final germination percentage in treatments T4 (resorcinol), T5 (nanobiochar), T11 (resorcinol + nanobiochar), T13, and T15 (AMF + biochar + resorcinol + nanobiochar). The lowest mean germination time (MGT) was also observed with resorcinol and nanobiochar treatments.

In addition to morphological improvements, the treatments enhanced the biochemical and physiological attributes of the tomato plants. Treatment T13 significantly increased the levels of flavonoids ( 3.54±0.01 mg/g in Saaho), total phenol (21.23±0.08 mg/g in Saaho), total protein contents (44.97±0.45 µg/g in Saaho), and total soluble sugar contents (47.97±0.49 µg/g in Saaho) compared to the control. Antioxidant enzyme activities, specifically catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), also saw significant increases, with the highest levels recorded under the T13 treatment. The highest CAT content reached 6.93±0.02 units/g in Saaho, while APX activity peaked at 6.14±0.02 units/g in Saaho under T13. Conversely, proline levels, an indicator of stress, declined in response to T13 but were highest in treatments that included resorcinol application alone, suggesting it may induce some stress conditions.

The study’s findings reveal a synergistic relationship between AMF, biochar, and nanobiochar in enhancing plant growth and stress resilience. The superior performance of nanobiochar is attributed to its smaller particle size (averaging 77.01 nm) and more negative zeta potential (-15.5 mV), which enhances its ability to be absorbed and translocated throughout the plant. This research establishes a strong foundation for integrating these components into sustainable tomato cultivation practices, which could help optimize crop yield and quality while reducing the need for traditional agrochemicals.

Source: Bibi, S., Ullah, R., Burni, T., Ullah, Z., Uddin, J., Nur-e-Alam, M., & Kazi, M. (2025). Morphophysiological attributes of AMF inoculated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) ameliorated by resorcinol, biochar and nanobiochar. Discover Nano, 20(1), 1–24.