Synergistic Effects of Kaolin and Silicon Nanoparticles for Ameliorating Deficit Irrigation Stress in Maize Plants by Upregulating Antioxidant Defense Systems

Abstract

Water deficit is a significant environmental stress that has a negative impact on plant growth and yield. In this research, the positive significance of kaolin and SiO2 nanoparticles in moderating the detrimental effects of water deficit on maize plant growth and yield is investigated. The foliar application of kaolin (3 and 6%) and SiO2 NPs (1.5 and 3 mM) solutions increased the growth and yield variables of maize plants grown under normal conditions (100% available water) and drought stress conditions (80 and 60% available water (AW)). In addition, plants treated with SiO2 NPs (3 mM) demonstrated increased levels of important osmolytes, such as proline and phenol, and maintained more of their photosynthetic pigments (net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and transpiration rate (E)) than with other applied treatments under either stress or non-stress conditions. Furthermore, the exogenous foliar application of kaolin and SiO2 NPs also reduced the amounts of hydroxyl radicals (OH), superoxide anions (O2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and lipid peroxidation in maize plants experiencing a water deficit. In contrast, the treatments led to an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GR), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Overall, our findings indicate the beneficial impact of the application of kaolin and silicon NPs, particularly the impact of SiO2 NPs (3 mM) on managing the negative, harmful impacts of soil water deficit stress in maize plants.

Role of silica nanoparticles in enhancing drought tolerance of cereal crops

“…Similarly, Elshayb et al (2021) in their study on rice concluded that a significant increase in SOD and CAT activity was observed in plants watered every 6 days, while the maximum POD activity in plants watered every 9 days, treated with 60 ppm SiNPs. According to Al-Mokadem et al (2023), foliar application of 3 mM SiNPs significantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes like CAT, SOD, POX, GR, and APX of Zea mays under water deficit conditions. Similarly, the application of SiNPs increased the activities of CAT, SOD, or G-POX, except for APX, of maize plants subjected to DS (Figure 2) (Sharf-Eldin et al, 2023).…”

“…SiNPs have great potential to enhance antioxidant activity, thereby alleviating the negative effects of drought-induced stress. Utilization of SiNPs notably enhanced activities of CAT, SOD, or POD, leading to a reduction in oxidative damage of DS (El-Beltagi and Mohamed, 2010;Afify et al, 2011;Afify et al, 2012;Al-Mokadem et al, 2023;Elshayb et al, 2021;Pinedo-Guerrero et al, 2020;Sutulienė et al, 2021). Raza et al (2023) reported that the treatment of SiNPs on wheat plants resulted in improved antioxidant enzyme activities.…”

Alleviating the drought stress and improving the plant resistance properties of Triticum aestivum via biopriming with aspergillus fumigatus

“…Several strategies have been implemented to overcome the hazardous effects of drought on wheat. Biopriming is one of the plants’ most well-known methods for reducing drought stress [ 13 ]. Hydropriming, osmo-priming, hormone priming, solid matrix, thermos-priming, nutria-priming, chemo-priming, and biological priming were all documented methods of priming [ 14 ].…”