Effects of Nanochitin on the Enhancement of the Grain Yield and Quality of Winter Wheat

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of different rates of nanochitin in soil on the grain yield and quality of winter wheat. Nanochitin obtained by acidic hydrolysis of shrimp chitin was a rod-like whisker possessing a hydrodynamic diameter of 143 nm and ζ potential of 55.7 mV. Two varieties of winter wheat, multi-spike wheat (MSW) and large spike wheat (LSW), were treated with the nanochitin suspension in outside pot experiments. The results showed that 0.006 g kg of nanochitin in soil could significantly enhance the yield by 23.0% for MSW and 33.4% for LSW, with significant increases of net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO concentrations, and transpiration rate in flag leaf at the grain filling stage. Grain protein, iron, and zinc contents in wheat treated with nanochitin were also increased by 5.0, 10.3, and 22.1% for MSW and 33.4, 32.0, and 27.0% for LSW, respectively. This indicated that utilization of nanochitin has a great potential in future agriculture sustainability and crop production.

The Stimulatory Effects of Nanochitin Whisker on Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism and on the Enhancement of Grain Yield and Crude Protein of Winter Wheat

“…In this study, the grain yield and crude protein concentration of the winter wheat treated with nanochitin first rose and then dropped with the increase in nanochitin application rate, because the number of spikes, grains per spike, and kernel weight (1000 grain weight) were all enhanced with the same dynamic trend according to the application rate of nanochitin in soil (Table 1). Compared with the 0 mg·kg −1 , the treatments with 2 mg·kg −1 and 6 mg·kg −1 of nanochitin in the soil significantly increased grain yield and protein concentration in wheat, in which the grain yield was increased by 19.14% and 27.56%, respectively, and the crude protein concentration was increased by 9.92% and 13.26%, respectively, which are in agreement with our previous report [28]. However, when the application rate of nanochitin was increased to 20 mg·kg −1 , the nanochitin had less effects on the yield components of wheat, even though the kernel weight still increased slightly at this application rate.…”

“…Microbial degradation of chitin in soil contributes substantially to carbon cycling and release in terrestrial ecosystems, and the latter could easily establish a symbiotic relationship with plant mycorrhizal fungi or rhizobium and promote nutrient absorption, especially for N fixation [34,35]. In a previous study, we found that cationic nanochitin whisker could boost photosynthesis and grain yield for both large spike and multi-spike varieties of winter wheat [28]. This project was a continuation of previous studies and mainly focused on the effects of nanochitin whisker on the absorption process and translocation of dry matter and N, as well as C and N metabolism at pre- and post-anthesis stages of wheat.…”

“…In our previous studies, we found that cationic nanochitin whisker when applied at an optimal rate could inhibit root rot diseases of tobacco and wheat [18,27], promote photosynthesis, and enhance grain yield of winter wheat by promoting net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO 2 concentrations, and transpiration rate in flag leaf at the grain-filling stage [28]. Grain protein, iron, and zinc contents in wheat were also increased dramatically when treated with nanochitin.…”

Extraction of Nanochitin from Marine Resources and Fabrication of Polymer Nanocomposites: Recent Advances

“…Agricultural scientists have analyzed nanochitin for their effects on crop growth enhancement, metabolism of carbon or nitrogen, stress tolerance, and elicitation of plant disease response [ 108 , 109 , 110 ]. Effects of nanochitin on improving grain yields and winter wheat quality were recorded by Xue et al where they showed that 0.006 g kg –1 of nanochitin in soil could pointedly boost the yield by 23% for multi-spike wheat (MSW) and 33.4% for large spike wheat (LSW), with substantial rises of net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO 2 concentrations, and transpiration rate in flag leaf at the grain filling stage [ 111 ]. Cheng et al, while studying the motivating effect of chitin nanoparticles on the metabolism of carbon and nitrogen, and the enhancement of grain yield and crude protein in winter wheat, suggested that nanochitin encouraged nitrogen metabolism more than carbon metabolism and increased crude protein concentration in grain by 13.26% and grain yield by 27.56% [ 112 ].…”

Recent Applications of Chitin- and Chitosan-Based Polymers in Plants

“…In outside pot experiments, two varieties of winter wheat treated with the NCW showed enhanced yield with significant increases of net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO 2 concentrations, and transpiration rate in flag leaf at the grain filling stage. Grain protein, iron, and zinc contents also increased in NCW-treated wheat [9]. In wheat, the antifungal activity of NCW was also tested.…”