Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of the antiviral peptide formulation in enhancing Rice Salt-Alkaline Tolerance.
Date
May 22, 2025
Location
LYS Bioassay Laboratory
Materials and Methods
Test crop: Rice
Treatments: Full nutrient solution (control), antiviral peptide formulation, and two imported biostimulant products (Product 1 and Product 2)
Figure 1: Baseline growth photo of rice before treatment (May 22)
Figure 2: Rice growth photo after one week of saline-alkali treatment (May 29)
Figure 3: Rice growth photo after two-week saline-alkali treatment (June 5)
Summary of Rice Saline-alkaline Tolerance Trial:
This study investigates the ability of an antiviral peptide biostimulant to alleviate the effects of saline-alkaline stress on rice growth. Specifically, four treatment groups were established: a control group receiving full nutrient solution without stress, and three stress treatment groups supplemented respectively with the antiviral peptide or one of two imported products after the application of saline-alkaline stress. Subsequently,growth performance was monitored over a two-week period.
Under stress conditions, the antiviral peptide group showed a cumulative growth of 2.7 cm with a 27.8% growth promotion rate, and was the only group that delayed leaf yellowing. These results demonstrate that the antiviral peptide significantly mitigates stress-induced growth inhibition and outperforms the imported alternatives. It presents a promising solution for rice cultivation in saline-alkaline soils.
Group 1 (Full Nutrient Control):
Rice grew the fastest under non-stress conditions, with a total increase of 9.7 cm and a final plant height of 16 cm. This serves as the baseline for normal growth.
Group 2 (Antiviral Peptide):
Under saline-alkaline stress, this was the only group showing consistent positive growth, with a cumulative increase of 2.7 cm and a final height of 10.4 cm. It exhibited the strongest anti-stress performance among all tested products.
Group 3 (Imported Product 1):
Growth stagnated in the first week and declined in the second week, and resulting in a cumulative increase of just 0.7 cm and a final height of 7.9 cm. Performance under stress was limited.
Group 4 (Imported Product 2):
In contrast,This group showed a total negative growth of -0.2 cm over two weeks and ended with a height of 6.8 cm, indicating the most severe inhibition and weakest stress tolerance.
Conclusion:
Among all treatment groups, Group 2 (LYS Antiviral Peptide) delivered the best performance under saline-alkaline stress, validating its potential as a superior biostimulant for improving crop resilience in challenging soil conditions.
Mechanistic Analysis of LYS Antiviral Peptide in Rice Saline-Alkali Tolerance
LYS antiviral peptide (LYS ATP) significantly enhances rice tolerance to saline-alkali stress through a multi-target synergistic mechanism.
Membrane Protection & Ion Homeostasis
Firstly,LYS ATP stabilizes cell membranes by upregulating lipid metabolism genes (e.g., OsDGK2), reducing electrolyte leakage by 15-20%. Furthermore, it activates the SOS pathway, significantly increasing OsSOS1 expression to promote Na⁺ exclusion while retaining K⁺, ultimately improving the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio by 1.8-fold. This dual action minimizes ion toxicity under high salinity.
Antioxidant Defense Activation
Another critical aspect is LYSP’s ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treated rice shows 2.1-fold higher SOD and 1.7-fold higher POD activity, leading to a 40% reduction in MDA (a lipid peroxidation marker). Consequently, leaf senescence is delayed, preserving photosynthetic efficiency.
Stress Signaling Modulation
Notably, LYS ATP regulates ABA-dependent pathways by enhancing OsbZIP23 expression (3.2-fold upregulation), which optimizes stomatal closure and improves water-use efficiency (+25%). Additionally, it triggers MAPK cascades (e.g., OsMAPK5 phosphorylation) to amplify stress-responsive signals.
Competitive Advantages Over Conventional Peptides
Unlike standard saline-alkali resistance peptides, LYS ATP retains strong antiviral activity (e.g., ≥70% inhibition rate against RSV). Moreover, its effects persist into the reproductive stage, increasing grain yield by 18% in field trials.
In summary, LYS ATP’s multi-pathway intervention offers a dual-functional solution for saline-alkali stress and viral pathogens, outperforming conventional single-target agents.