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Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2021) | Viewed by 42145

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Prof. Dr. Hassan El-Ramady

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Guest Editor

Soil & Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
Interests: drought; bioremediation; phytoremediation green technology; oxidative stress; phytotoxicity; plant nutrition; soil fertility; sustainable agriculture biofertilizers; nanofertilizers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Vishnu D. Rajput

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Co-Guest Editor

Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Stachki Ave. 194/1, 344090 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Interests: soil pollution; biochar; carbon; plant physiology; cellular-subcellular changes; DNA damages, nanoparticles; microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Stress on plants is a crucial issue worldwide. These stresses include abiotic (particularly drought, salinity, and heavy metals) and biotic stresses. A lot of studies to date have focused on the stress on plants under individual stresses, but combined stress has received much less attention. The most common combined stresses may include drought and salinity, salinity and heat stress, waterlogging and salinity, etc., and a lot of issues may arise that affect cultivated plants on a morphological, physiological, anatomical, and genetical level, causing a significant loss in crop productivity. Many strategies could be used to support plant growth under these stresses, such as applied nanoparticles, especially nanoselenium and silicon. These nanoparticles still need more and more investigations to justify the behavior of cultivated plants under combined stress. The role of nanofertilizers in mitigating combined stress on cultivated plants also need more attention. Therefore, considering the high interest in nanofertilizers (especially biological ones) as an emerging alternative fertilizer for sustainable agriculture under combined stress on cultivated plants, this Special Issue will cover a wide variety of areas, aiming to contribute to the overall knowledge of application of nanofertilizers under combined stresses from different aspects.

Prof. Dr. Hassan El-Ramady
Guest Editor
Dr. Vishnu D. Rajput
Co-Guest Editor

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Keywords

nanoselenium
nanosilicon
salinity
drought
oxidative stress
combined stress
nanofertilizers

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Silica Ions and Nano Silica on Growth and Productivity of Pea Plants under Salinity Stress

by Lamiaa M. Ismail, Magda I. Soliman, Mohammed H. Abd El-Aziz and Heba M. M. Abdel-Aziz

Plants 2022, 11(4), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040494 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 4213

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of silicon (Si) and nano-silicon (NSi) on growth, yield, ions content, and antioxidant defense systems, including transcript levels of enzyme-encoding genes in Pisum sativum plants grown under salinity stress. Both Si and NSi were applied at the 3 mM level and NaCl was applied at 4 concentrations (100, 150, 200 and 250 mM). Vegetative growth, including plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry weights, and yield attributes were determined. Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes was analyzed, and their activities were determined. The results showed that salinity had deleterious effects on plant growth and yield. Salt-stressed plant leaves exhibited a greater activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), but a lower activity of catalase (CAT) when compared to the control. Na⁺ ions accumulated in roots and shoots of salinized plants. The application of Si and NSi significantly enhanced vegetative growth and relative water content (RWC), and caused significant increases in plant height, fresh and dry weight, total yield, and antioxidant defense systems. Si and NSi enhanced K⁺ content in roots and shoots under salinity treatment and decreased Na⁺ content in the studied tissues. It was concluded that the application of NSi was beneficial in improving the salt tolerance of Pisum sativum plants more than Si alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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26 pages, 5900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silver Nanoparticles Alter Microtubule Arrangement, Dynamics and Stress Phytohormone Levels

by Jindřiška Angelini, Ruslan Klassen, Jitka Široká, Ondřej Novák, Kamil Záruba, Jakub Siegel, Zuzana Novotná and Olga Valentová

Plants 2022, 11(3), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030313 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3642

Abstract

The superior properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has resulted in their broad utilization worldwide, but also the risk of irreversible environment infestation. The plant cuticle and cell wall can trap a large part of the nanoparticles and thus protect the internal cell structures, where the cytoskeleton, for example, reacts very quickly to the threat, and defense signaling is subsequently triggered. We therefore used not only wild-type Arabidopsis seedlings, but also the glabra 1 mutant, which has a different composition of the cuticle. Both lines had GFP-labeled microtubules (MTs), allowing us to observe their arrangement. To quantify MT dynamics, we developed a new microscopic method based on the FRAP technique. The number and growth rate of MTs decreased significantly after AgNPs, similarly in both lines. However, the layer above the plasma membrane thickened significantly in wild-type plants. The levels of three major stress phytohormone derivatives—jasmonic, abscisic, and salicylic acids—after AgNP (with concomitant Ag⁺) treatment increased significantly (particularly in mutant plants) and to some extent resembled the plant response after mechanical stress. The profile of phytohormones helped us to estimate the mechanism of response to AgNPs and also to understand the broader physiological context of the observed changes in MT structure and dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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15 pages, 2334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Sprayed Green Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Mitigate Drought-Induced Oxidative Stress in Tomato

by Manal El-Zohri, Naseem A. Al-Wadaani and Sameera O. Bafeel

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2400; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112400 - 7 Nov 2021

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 4042

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) foliar spray on tomato growth and oxidative stress relief under drought conditions. Tomato plant subjected to four water regimes (100, 75, 50, and 25% FC), and in the same while seedlings were sprayed with 25, 50, and 100 mg/L green ZnO-NPs. The results showed that tomato growth parameters reduced significantly by increasing drought stress levels, while ZnO-NPs enhanced plant growth under all studied drought levels. Out of three ZnO-NPs concentrations tested, 25 and 50 mg/L ZnO-NPs proved to be the optimum treatments for alleviating drought stress. They increased shoot and root biomass compared to untreated controls. Application of 25 and 50 mg/L ZnO-NPs enhanced shoot dry weight by about 2–2.5-fold, respectively, under severe drought conditions (25%) compared to ZnO-NPs untreated plants. The application of 25 and 50 mg/L green ZnO-NPs decreased the drought-induced oxidative stress as indicated by the reduction in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide concentrations compared to untreated controls. While 100 mg/L ZnO-NPs further increased oxidative stress. The beneficial effects of ZnO-NPs were evident in the plants’ defensive state, in which the concentration of ascorbic acid, free phenols, and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase were maintained at higher levels compared to NPs-untreated plants. At severe drought conditions, 25 mg/L ZnO-NPs induced SOD, CAT, and APX activity by about 3.99-, 3.23-, and 2.82-fold of their corresponding controls, respectively. Likewise, at 25% FC, SOD, CAT, and APX activity increased with 50 mg/L ZnO-NPs by about 4.58-, 3.57-, and 3.25-fold consecutively compared with their respective controls. Therefore, foliar use of green ZnO-NPs at lower concentrations might be suggested as an efficient way for enhancing tomato tolerance to drought stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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18 pages, 5407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Pomegranate and Orange Peel Extracts and Their Antifungal Activity against Alternaria solani, the Causal Agent of Early Blight Disease of Tomato

by Yasser S. Mostafa, Saad A. Alamri, Sulaiman A. Alrumman, Mohamed Hashem and Zakaria A. Baka

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2363; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112363 - 2 Nov 2021

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4629

Abstract

This study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by pomegranate and orange peel extracts using a low concentration of AgNO₃ solution to controlearly blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani. The pathogen was isolated from infected tomato plants growing in different areas of Saudi Arabia. The isolates of this pathogen were morphologically and molecularly identified. Extracts from peels of pomegranate and orange fruits effectively developed a simple, quick, eco-friendly and economical method through a synthesis of AgNPs as antifungal agents against A. solani. Phenolic content in the pomegranate peel extract was greater than orange peel extract. Phenolic compounds showed a variation of both peel extracts as identified and quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The phenolic composition displayed variability as the pomegranate peel extract exhibited an exorbitant amount of Quercitrin (23.62 mg/g DW), while orange peel extract recorded a high amount of Chlorogenic acid (5.92 mg/g DW). Biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV- visible spectroscopy which recorded an average wavelength of 437 nm and 450 nm for pomegranate and orange peels, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy exhibited 32x73.24, 2223.71, 2047.29 and 1972.46 cm⁻¹, and 3260.70, 1634.62, 1376.62 and 1243.76 cm⁻¹ for pomegranate and orange peels, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical shape of nanoparticles. Zetasizer analysis presented negative charge values; −16.9 and −19.5 mV with average particle sizes 8 and 14 nm fin case of pomegranate and orange peels, respectively. In vitro, antifungal assay was done to estimate the possibility of biosynthesized AgNPs and crude extracts of fruit peels to reduce the mycelial growth of A. solani. AgNPs displayed more fungal mycelial inhibition than crude extracts of two peels and AgNO₃. We recommend the use of AgNPs synthesized from fruit peels for controlling fungal plant pathogens and may be applied broadly and safely in place by using the chemical fungicides, which display high toxicity for humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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14 pages, 3275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biosynthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Ochradenus arabicus and Their Effect on Growth and Antioxidant Systems of Maerua oblongifolia

by Hassan O. Shaikhaldein, Fahad Al-Qurainy, Salim Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Mohamed Tarroum, Abdalrhaman M. Salih, Abdel-Rhman Zakaria Gaafar, Aref Alshameri, Saleh Alansi, Norah Arrak Alenezi and Norah S. Alfarraj

Plants 2021, 10(9), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091808 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3951

Abstract

Zincoxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are among the most produced and used nanomaterials worldwide, and in recent times these nanoparticles have also been incorporate in plant science and agricultural research. The present study was planned to synthesize ZnO NPs biologically using Ochradenus arabicus leaves and examine their effect on the morphology and physiology properties of Maerua oblongifolia cultured in vitro. ZnO NPs were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscopy, which demonstrated hexagonal shape nanoparticles of size ranging from 10 to 50 nm. Thus, the study uncovered an efficient, eco-friendly and simple technique for biosynthesis of multifunctional ZnO NPs using Ochradenus arabicus following growth of Maerua oblongifolia shoots in different concentrations of ZnO NPs (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg L⁻¹) in Murashige and Skoog medium. Remarkable increases in plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and total protein were recorded up to a concentration of 5 mg L⁻¹; at the same time, the results demonstrated a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation levels with respect to control. Interestingly, the levels of proline and the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were increased significantly in response to all ZnO NP treatments. These findings indicate that bioengineered ZnO NPs play a major role in accumulation of biomass and stimulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes in plant tissues. Thus, green-synthesized ZnO NPs might be of agricultural and medicinal benefit owing to their impacts on plants in vitro. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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21 pages, 1653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Nano Silicon and Nano Selenium on Root Characters, Growth, Ion Selectivity, Yield, and Yield Components of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Salinity Conditions

by Shimaa A. Badawy, Bassiouni A. Zayed, Sherif M. A. Bassiouni, Ayman H. A. Mahdi, Ali Majrashi, Esmat F. Ali and Mahmoud F. Seleiman

Plants 2021, 10(8), 1657; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081657 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 86 | Viewed by 5338

Abstract

Rice production under salinity stress is a critical challenge facing many countries, particularly those in arid and semi-arid regions. This challenge could be handled by applying novel approaches to overcome yield limiting factors and improve resource use efficiency. The usage of nanoparticles (NPs) could be a beneficial approach to managing the growing problem of soil salinity. The aim of our study was to investigate the advantageous effects of soaking and foliar application of silicon (Si) and selenium (Se), (NPs-Si at 12.5 mg L⁻¹ and NPs-Se at 6.25 mg L⁻¹) on root characteristics, moropho-physiological traits, and yields of two rice varieties (i.e., Giza 177 as a salt sensitive and Giza 178 as a salt tolerant) grown in saline soil compared to untreated plants (control treatment). Results showed that soaking NPs-Se resulted in the highest value of root thickness for Giza 178 (0.90 mm, 0.95 mm) and root volume (153.30 cm³, 154.30 cm³), while Giza 177 recorded 0.83 mm, 0.81 mm for root thickness and 143.30 cm³, 141.30 cm³ for root volume in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively. Soaking NPs-Se, NPs-Si and foliar application of NPs-Se at BT resulted in the highest relative water content and dry matter, while foliar application of NPs-Si at BT gave the highest leaf area index of rice plants compared to the other treatments. Giza 178 (i.e., salt tolerant variety) significantly surpassed Giza 177 (i.e., salt sensitive variety) in the main yield components such as panicle number and filled grains/ panicle, while Giza 177 significantly exceeded Giza 178 in the panicle weight, 1000-grain weight, and unfilled grains number/ panicle. Soaking NPs-Se and foliar application of NPs-Si at BT resulted in the highest grain yield of 5.41 and 5.34 t ha⁻¹ during 2018 and 5.00 and 4.91 t ha⁻¹ during 2019, respectively. The salt sensitive variety (Giza 177) had the highest Na⁺ leaf content and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio as well as the lowest K+ leaf content during both seasons. Applying nano nutrients such as NPs-Si and NPs-Se improved the yield components of the salt sensitive variety (Giza 177) by enhancing its ion selectivity. Both NPs-Si and NPs-Se had almost the same mode of action to mitigate the harmful salinity and enhance plant growth, and subsequently improved the grain yield. In summary, the application of NPs-Si and NPs-Se is recommended as a result of their positive influence on rice growth and yield as well as minimizing the negative effects of salt stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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16 pages, 4031 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Engineered Carbon Nanoparticles (CNPs) in Promoting Growth and Metabolism of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek: Insights into the Biochemical and Physiological Responses

by Gyan Singh Shekhawat, Lovely Mahawar, Priyadarshani Rajput, Vishnu D. Rajput, Tatiana Minkina and Rupesh Kumar Singh

Plants 2021, 10(7), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071317 - 28 Jun 2021

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 4261

Abstract

Despite the documented significance of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) in plant development, the knowledge of the impact of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) dosage on physiological responses of crop plants is still scarce. Hence, the present study investigates the concentration-dependent impact of CNPs on the morphology and physiology of Vigna radiata. Crop seedlings were subjected to CNPs at varying concentrations (25 to 200 µM) in hydroponic medium for 96 h to evaluate various physiological parameters. CNPs at an intermediate concentration (100 to 150 µM) favor the growth of crops by increasing the total chlorophyll content (1.9-fold), protein content (1.14-fold) and plant biomass (fresh weight: 1.2-fold, dry weight: 1.14-fold). The highest activity of antioxidants (SOD, GOPX, APX and proline) was also recorded at these concentrations, which indicates a decline in ROS level at 100 µM. At the highest CNPs treatment (200 µM), aggregation of CNPs was observed more on the root surface and accumulated in higher concentrations in the plant tissues, which limits the absorption and translocation of nutrients to plants, and hence, at these concentrations, the oxidative damage imposed by CNPs is evaded with the rise in activity of antioxidants. These findings show the importance of CNPs as nano-fertilizers that not only improve plant growth by their slow and controlled release of nutrients, but also enhance the stress-tolerant and phytoremediation efficiency of plants in the polluted environment due to their enormous absorption potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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21 pages, 3258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waste-Derived NPK Nanofertilizer Enhances Growth and Productivity of Capsicum annuum L.

by Heba M. M. Abdel-Aziz, Magda I. Soliman, Aml M. Abo Al-Saoud and Ghada A. El-Sherbeny

Plants 2021, 10(6), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061144 - 4 Jun 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5561

Abstract

Waste generation is a global issue that necessitates effective management for both human and animal health as well as environment. There are several ways to reduce waste, but recycling appears to be the best choice. By recycling, not only will the problem of pollution be resolved, but valuable compounds could be generated to be used as nutrients for plants. In this study, eco-friendly methods were established to produce α- and β-chitosan (CS) (as a source of nitrogen) with different degrees of deacetylation from shrimp shells and squid pin waste, phosphorous through degreasing and calcination of bovine bone and potassium from evaporation of banana peels Kolakhar. The waste bulk products were physically characterized and dry-milled into nano-powders. Different concentrations of the produced nano-NPK fertilizer (10%, 25%, 50% and 100%) were foliar-applied to Capsicum annum L. cv. Cordoba plants and compared to commercial chemical fertilizer and untreated control plants. The obtained results revealed that the nano-composite NPK with 25% concentration significantly promoted growth, yield and harvest of C. annuum as compared with the control and chemical fertilizer-treated plants. This study demonstrated that the use of an eco-friendly preparation of waste NPK composites, with a low concentration, could be applied as foliar fertilizer over chemical fertilizer to enhance the growth and productivity of Capsicum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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12 pages, 508 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Influence of Silver Nanoparticles on the Biological Indicators of Haplic Chernozem

by Sergey Kolesnikov, Natalia Tsepina, Tatiana Minnikova, Kamil Kazeev, Saglara Mandzhieva, Svetlana Sushkova, Tatiana Minkina, Mahmoud Mazarji, Rupesh Kumar Singh and Vishnu D. Rajput

Plants 2021, 10(5), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10051022 - 20 May 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3822

Abstract

In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly used in various industries due to their antibacterial properties, which lead to an increase in pollution of the environment and soil ecosystems. However, the ecological effects of soil pollution by AgNPs were poorly studied than that with AgNPs of other metal-based NPs. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of AgNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Chernozem. Silver was introduced into the soil in the form of AgNPs with a concentration of 0.5; 1; 5; 10; 50, and 100 mg/kg in laboratory conditions. The influence of AgNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Chernozem was assessed 30 days after contamination. The degree of reduction in biological properties depends on the AgNPs concentration in the soil. This study showed that the sensitivity to contamination by AgNPs in the total number of bacteria and enzymatic activity was more than that in the abundance of bacteria of the genus Azotobacter. The integrated index of biological state (IIBS) of Haplic Chernozem was decreased by contamination with AgNPs. Silver nanoparticles in the concentration of 10 mg/kg caused a decrease in the indicator by 13% relative to the control. It also decreased IIBS by doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg by 22 and 27% relative to the control. All used biological indicators could be used for biomonitoring, biodiagnosis, bioindication, and regulation of ecological condition of soil contamination by AgNPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Nano-Particles under Combined Stress on Plants)

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