WITHDRAWN: The impact of silver nanoparticles on the antioxidant activity of winter wheat and barley varieties

Abstract

Cereals are exposed to various environmental conditions during the vegetation period, which affects their growth, development, and yield. Silver nanoparticles present a potential solution to mitigate the adverse effects of temperature stress. This study examines the impact of silver nanoparticles on the antioxidant activity of winter wheat and barley varieties during the tillering stage under winter conditions in a field trial. Silver nanoparticles were obtained through green synthesis using a water extract of the plant Agrimonia eupatoria L. Two winter cereal varieties, Simonida (Triticum aestivum L.) and Nonius (Hordeum vulgare L.), were foliar treated with concentrations of 5 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml. The experiment lasted for 10 days, during which a minimum temperature of -7°C was recorded under agricultural conditions. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH method before and after silver nanoparticle treatment, alongside evaluating the antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles themselves and ascorbic acid as a positive control. According to the obtained results, silver nanoparticles increased the antioxidant activity in both tested winter cereal varieties compared to the controls, with higher values observed in wheat compared to barley. This underscores the potential of silver nanoparticles to enhance the tolerance of winter cereals to cold and low temperatures through increased antioxidant activity.