The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Crop Growth and Development

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2021) | Viewed by 14134

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Texas A&M Univ, Zachry Dept Civil Engn, College Stn, TX 77843 USA.
Interests: environmental nanotechnology; biogeochemistry; advanced materials; emerging contaminants; photocatalysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exploration for sustainable applications of nanotechnology in agriculture has gained tremendous momentum over the past few years. The enormous potential of metallic nanoparticles as crop growth promotors, plant disease inhibitors, and slow-releasing nutrient sources is increasingly recognized. Meanwhile, their potential phototoxicity and accumulation in plant tissues are constantly brought to attention, even though the health implications of their accumulation in edible tissues remain unknown. In addition to their direct interactions with plants, agriculturally applied metallic nanoparticles interact with coexisting environmental pollutants and plant nutrients to alter their availability and toxicity. This secondary effect of metallic nanoparticles on the fate and transport of co-existing chemicals has attracted more attention recently. Additionally, it is important to realize that in the agricultural setting, other factors, most notably soil health, play key roles in dictating the impact of metallic nanoparticles on crop growth and development. This Special Issue aims to provide a concentrated venue to publish the most impactful research on the broad field of metallic nanoparticles and crop growth to contribute to the advancement of sustainable applications of nanotechnology in agriculture. Both novel research articles and reviews will be considered.

Prof. Xingmao Ma
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Metallic nanoparticles
  • Plant uptake
  • Phytotoxicity
  • Plant disease
  • Soil health
  • Food safety

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 8062 KiB  
Article
Conventional versus Nano Calcium Forms on Peanut Production under Sandy Soil Conditions
by Mohamed Hamza, Mohamed Abbas, Asmaa Abd Elrahman, Mohamed Helal and Mohamed Shahba
Agriculture 2021, 11(8), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080767 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3619
Abstract
Abiotic stresses in sandy soil, which include saline water, saline soil, and lack of nutrients, affect the productivity and quality traits of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L). Elemental calcium (Ca2+) is necessary for the proper development of peanut pods. This work [...] Read more.
Abiotic stresses in sandy soil, which include saline water, saline soil, and lack of nutrients, affect the productivity and quality traits of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L). Elemental calcium (Ca2+) is necessary for the proper development of peanut pods. This work aimed at comparing conventional Ca and nano-Ca form effects on peanut production and quality traits. Two randomized complete block field experiments were conducted in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Treatments were control, gypsum plus calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2, and chelated calcium, as well as 100, 75, 50, 25, and 12.5% of Ca(NO3)2 doses in a nano form. The results indicated that the treatment of gypsum plus conventional CaNO3 achieved the highest yield and best quality traits, followed by the Ca(NO3)2 and 100% nano Ca(NO3)2 treatments. The treatments of the control, gypsum, and 12.5% nano Ca(NO3)2 had the lowest effect on peanut performance. The conventional treatment of gypsum plus Ca(NO3)2 resulted in the greatest seed yield (1.6 ton ha−1), oil yield (700.3 kg ha−1), and protein yield (380.1 kg ha−1). Peanuts may benefit from Ca2+ better by using gypsum as the soil application and calcium nitrate as the foliar application to prevent disorders of Ca2+ deficiency under sandy soil conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Crop Growth and Development)
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15 pages, 1882 KiB  
Article
Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Ions Differentially Affect the Phytohormone Balance and Yield in Wheat
by Ewa Pociecha, Anna Gorczyca, Michał Dziurka, Ewelina Matras and Magdalena Oćwieja
Agriculture 2021, 11(8), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080729 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3179
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver ions might induce specific changes and thereby affect plant development and final yield. The experiment was performed on spring wheat, cultured hydroponically with two types of negatively charged AgNPs of [...] Read more.
This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver ions might induce specific changes and thereby affect plant development and final yield. The experiment was performed on spring wheat, cultured hydroponically with two types of negatively charged AgNPs of an average size of 13–15 nm and silver ions for 14 days and then transplanted to pots with soil. Our results indicated that treatment with the AgNPs stabilized by specific compounds resulted in growth promotion and a reduced number of days to flowering, while that with the ionic form of Ag only caused greater growth in height without influencing the time to heading. Accelerated flowering was caused by changes in phytohormone balance, with GA6 found to be especially favorable. Nanoparticles and silver ions affected the function of photosystem II and the transport and partitioning of assimilates. Increases in the transport form of sugars such as sucrose, raffinose and sorbitol were associated with a considerable improvement in wheat yield, especially in the case of plants treated with the nanoparticle forms, which were more stable and resistant to oxidative dissolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Crop Growth and Development)
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11 pages, 2398 KiB  
Article
Foliar Application of Zn Agrichemicals Affects the Bioavailability of Arsenic, Cadmium and Micronutrients to Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Flooded Paddy Soil
by Hamidreza Sharifan and Xingmao Ma
Agriculture 2021, 11(6), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11060505 - 30 May 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3779
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is a key micronutrient affecting bio-functions of crops. Impacts of foliar application of three forms of Zn-containing agrichemicals on the physiology of rice seedlings and their uptake of heavy metal(loid)s and micronutrients from fully flooded paddy soils were investigated in a [...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) is a key micronutrient affecting bio-functions of crops. Impacts of foliar application of three forms of Zn-containing agrichemicals on the physiology of rice seedlings and their uptake of heavy metal(loid)s and micronutrients from fully flooded paddy soils were investigated in a greenhouse study. Rice seedlings 45 days after germination were randomly exposed to an equivalent amount of 100 mg L−1 of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), zinc oxide bulk particles (ZnOBPs), and zinc salts (Zn2+) through foliar exposure. At termination, rice seedlings were divided into roots and shoots and the concerned metal contents in plant tissues were determined with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our results demonstrated that all Zn agrichemicals displayed a similar effect on plant growth, but ZnONPs led to the greatest root exudate excretion and greatest inhibition in arsenic (As) uptake. Foliar application of ZnONPs resulted in 28% less As in rice shoots while Zn2+ only caused a 15% decrease in As accumulation in the same tissues. ZnOBPs had minimal impact on As concentration in rice shoots. ZnONPs also promoted iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) uptake in rice shoots, both of which are essential micronutrients for humans. The results suggest that foliar application of ZnONPs resulted in more favorable outcomes for plant growth and food safety than other two types of Zn. Overall, our results showed that application of nanoagrichemicals have important food safety and nutrition implications in addition to their agronomical roles and ZnONPs could be potentially used to alleviate As uptake and fortify Zn and other essential micronutrients in rice grains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Crop Growth and Development)
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10 pages, 792 KiB  
Article
Growth Responses and Accumulation Characteristics of Three Ornamental Plants to Sn Contamination in Soil
by Yuxia Liu, Weili Xu, Yi Wang, Weiduo Hao, Qixing Zhou and Jianv Liu
Agriculture 2021, 11(3), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030205 - 3 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2553
Abstract
Decorative ornamental plants have been applied as hyperaccumulators/phytoremediators to a wide spectrum of heavy metal contaminants. In this study, pot culture experiments were conducted to investigate the Sn tolerance and accumulation in Impatiens balsamina L., Mirabilis jalapa L. and Tagetes erecta L., in [...] Read more.
Decorative ornamental plants have been applied as hyperaccumulators/phytoremediators to a wide spectrum of heavy metal contaminants. In this study, pot culture experiments were conducted to investigate the Sn tolerance and accumulation in Impatiens balsamina L., Mirabilis jalapa L. and Tagetes erecta L., in order to assess the possibility of these three ornamental plants to be used as phytoremediators of Sn-contaminated soil. Results show that all three plants exhibited strong tolerance to Sn contamination, and no significant visual toxicity was observed for all three plants grown under most of the Sn treatments. The amount of Sn accumulated in the three plants was positively correlated with the Sn concentration in the soil. The order of the Sn accumulative capacity was Impatiens balsamina > Mirabilis jalapa > Tagetes erecta. Impatiens balsamina and Tagetes erecta showed a low translocation ability (TF) (<1), and the roots accumulated the highest Sn concentration, but Impatiens balsamina showed a relatively high bioconcentration factor (BCF, Sn concentration in each part > 100 mg/kg after Sn treatment of 500 mg/kg). Meanwhile, the TF of Mirabilis jalapa was >1, and the fluorescence accumulated the most Sn. In combination with the adaptation to high concentrations of various heavy metals, these three ornamental plants are potential candidates for Sn mining tailings or contaminated soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Crop Growth and Development)
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