Effect of nano-silicon on the regulation of ascorbate-glutathione contents, antioxidant defense system and growth of copper stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

Abstract

Copper (Cu2+) toxicity can inhibit plant growth and development. It has been shown that silicon (Si) can relieve Cu2+ stress. However, it is unclear how Si-nanoparticles (SiNPs) relieve Cu2+ stress in wheat seedlings. Therefore, the current study was conducted by setting up four treatments: CK, SiNP: (2.5 mM), Cu2+: (500 µM), and SiNP+Cu2+: (2.5 mM SiNP+500 µM Cu2+) to explore whether SiNPs can alleviate Cu2+ toxicity in wheat seedlings. The results showed that Cu2+ stress hampered root and shoot growth and accumulated high Cu2+ concentrations in roots (45.35 mg/kg) and shoots (25.70 mg/kg) of wheat as compared to control treatment. Moreover, Cu2+ treatment inhibited photosynthetic traits and chlorophyll contents as well as disturbed the antioxidant defense system by accumulating malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxidase (H2O2) contents. However, SiNPs treatment increased root length and shoot height by 15.1% and 22%, respectively, under Cu2+ toxicity. Moreover, SiNPs application decreased MDA and H2O2 contents by 31.25% and 19.25%, respectively. SiNPs increased non-enzymatic compounds such as ascorbic acid-glutathione (AsA-GSH) and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbic peroxidase (APX) activities by 77.5%, 141.7%, 68%, and 80%, respectively. Furthermore, SiNPs decreased Cu2+ concentrations in shoots by 26.2%, as compared to Cu2+ treatment alone. The results concluded that SiNPs could alleviate Cu2+ stress in wheat seedlings. The present investigation may help to increase wheat production in Cu2+ contaminated soils.

Impacts of ZnO as a nanofertilizer on fenugreek: some biochemical parameters and SCoT analysis

“…Glutathione content increased in all treatments of ZnO NPs and peaked at 30 mg/l compared with the control. This agrees with Riaz et al [ 54 ] who found that SiNPs increased glutathione content in wheat. In addition, Jurkow et al [ 55 ] found that foliar application of Au-NPs and Pt-NPs on oakleaf lettuce seedlings leads to an increase in glutathione (GSH) content.…”

Silicon nanoparticles vs trace elements toxicity: Modus operandi and its omics bases

“…Also, SiNPs treatment enhanced the photosynthetic capacity, biomass, and overall growth, which authors correlated with the reduced TEs uptake and accumulation in the plant shoot. Similarly, Riaz et al (2022) suggested that SiNPs can relieve Cu 2+ toxicity in wheat seedlings. SiNPs treated plants showed increased root length and plant height and enhanced antioxidant defence system.…”

Silicon nanoparticles in sustainable agriculture: synthesis, absorption, and plant stress alleviation

“…Metal stresses induce oxidative damages, nutritional imbalance, photosynthesis system destruction, and plant growth inhibition ( Clemens et al., 2002 ). As a promising tool in protecting plant against metal stress, SiNPs are proven to effectively ameliorate various metal toxicity such as cadmium (Cd) ( Riaz et al., 2022a ; Zhao et al., 2023 ), arsenic (As) ( Gonzalez-Moscoso et al., 2022 ; Yang et al., 2022 ), mercury (Hg) ( Li et al., 2020 ), lead (Pb) ( Hussain et al., 2020 ), Cu ( Riaz et al., 2022b ), aluminum (Al) ( de Sousa et al., 2019 ), and chromium (Cr) ( Tripathi et al., 2015 ). Multiple mechanisms are involved behind the SiNPs-induced broad-spectrum metal stress tolerance ( Figure 5 ).…”