Nanofertilizers have become a pioneer approach in agriculture research nowadays. In this paper we investigate the delivery of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) for wheat plants by foliar uptake. Chiotsan-NPK nanoparticles were easily applied to leaf surfaces and entered the stomata via gas uptake, avoiding direct interaction with soil systems. The uptake and translocation of nanoparticles inside wheat plants was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that nano particles were taken up and transported through phloem tissues. Treatment of wheat plants grown on sandy soil with nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer induced significant increases in harvest index, crop index and mobilization index of the determined wheat yield variables, as compared with control yield variables of wheat plants treated with normal non-fertilized and normal fertilized NPK. The life cycle of the nano-fertilized wheat plants was shorter than normal-fertilized wheat plants with the ratio of 23.5% (130 days compared with 170 days for yield production from date of sowing). Thus, accelerating plant growth and productivity by application of nanofertilizers can open new perspectives in agricultural practice. However, the response of plants to nanofertilizers varies with the type of plant species, their growth stages and nature of nanomaterials.

Prasad and Zeeshan 10 in Plectonema boryanum and Agarwal 11 in Cassia seedlings. The UV enhancement of CAT and peroxidase (POD) activities, which are both responsible for detoxification of H 2 O 2 are probably equally important in the detoxification of H 2 O 2 , generated by SOD in Cassia seedlings. Increases in activities of peroxidases by UV radiation have been observed in several species including Cassia species 12 and potato.

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He b a M a h m o u d Mo h a m m a d A b d e l -A zi zM o h a m m e d N a g i b A b d e l -Gh a n y H a s a n e e n A ya Mo h e b O me r Foliar application of nano chitosan NPK fertilizer improves the yield of w heat plants grow n on tw o different soils ABSTRACT: Foliar application of nano chitosan nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizer decreased the life cycle of wheat plants with the ratio of 23.5% (130 days for yield production from date of sowing). Treatment of wheat plants with nano chitosan NPK fertilizer induced signif icant increases in all yield parameters, as compared with control yield parameters of normal non -fertilized and normal fertilized NPK wheat plants. Transmission electron microscopy investigations showed that nanoparticles were present in phloem tissues whi ch mean that nanoparticles were taken up and transported through phloem route from leaves to stem down to roots. Clay-sandy soil showed better results than those obtained for clay soil. Foliar application of nano fertilizer to wheat plants proved to be important to improve yield parameters of wheat plants and shorten the life cycle of the crop. KEY WORDS:Nanofertilizers, Clay soil, Clay -sandy Soil, Uptake, W heat. CORRESPONDENCE:He

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.

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