Priming with copper-chitosan nanoparticles elicit tolerance against PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress and salinity in wheat

Abstract

In this study Cu-chitosan nanoparticles (Cu-CNP) have been employed as eco-friendly and safer priming agents to induce salt and PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress tolerance in wheat seedlings. Seed priming is a facile on-farm stress management technique that requires a little amount of priming agent and minimizes the eco-toxicological effects on soil fertility. The wheat seeds were primed with 0.12% and 0.16% Cu-CNP for eight hours and were allowed to germinate under normal, PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress (15% PEG-6000 – 3.0 Mpa) and salt stress (150 mM). For comparison, non-primed and hydro-primed seeds were also allowed to germinate as control under the same conditions. The biochemical analyses suggested the priming treatments enhanced the POD activity under salt stress but it was decreased under PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress. Priming with 0.12% Cu-CNP induced a significant increase in CAT while the opposite effect was observed in 0.16% treated seedling under stress and non-stress conditions. Both priming treatments did not allow the over-expression of SOD under both stress conditions. The total phenolic contents were also decreased significantly under all conditions. Except for priming with 0.16% Cu-CNP under PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress, a suppression in MDA was observed under both stress conditions. Surprisingly, the Cu-CNP priming induced a significant increase in β-carotenoids, total carotenoids, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll under normal and stress conditions. In conclusion, the controlled expression of enzymatic antioxidants, low contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants and suppression of MDA mirror the stress mitigating role of Cu-CNP against PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress and salinity. The stress-insulating potential has also been reinforced by the enhanced production of plant and photosynthetic pigments. All these priming-induced biochemical changes produced positive effects on growth and germinating parameters in wheat seedlings under PEG-induced hyperosmotic stress as well as salinity.

Application of chitosan nanopriming on plant growth and secondary metabolites of Pancratium maritimum L

“…Our findings demonstrated that applying chitosan nanoparticles boosted plant height and biomass. Farooq et al showed that seedlings originating from chitosan nanoparticles treated seeds showed a significant increase in root length under normal conditions [ 30 ] Choudhary et al found that the Cu-chitosan nanoparticles seed treatments improved the shoot length and vigor index of maize seedlings under normal conditions. However, there was no significant effect on the germination percentage [ 31 ].…”

Effects of Phytogenically Synthesized Bimetallic Ag/ZnO Nanomaterials and Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers on Biochemical and Yield Attributes of Two Wheat Varieties

“…Because of the application of plant-derived nanomaterials (60 ppm) with urea and ammonium sulphate, a significant decrease in enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, POD, and CAT) was observed in both wheat varieties. Farooq et al, [ 66 ] reported that the activity of all the antioxidative enzymes was prolonged in sum at all stages of growth in plants. Alabdallah et al, [ 67 ] reported decrease in the production of SOD, POD, and CAT on crop plants by application of phytogenically prepared metal-based nanomaterials.…”

Plant Nutrition for Human Health: A Pictorial Review on Plant Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Agriculture

“…Salt stress (250, 500 mM NaCl) Salicylic acid mitigated the adverse impacts of salt stress, which decreased flavonoids by enhancing the content of chlorogenic acid [202] Brassica nigra L. Salt stress (100 and 150 mM NaCl) Salinity enhanced forming of many bioactives e.g., phytosterols, and tocopherols [203] Faba bean: Vicia faba L. Salt stress at 150 mM NaCl Salinity induced accumulation of flavonoids, phenols, and tannins, in response to ZnO-NPs [204] Calotropis procera (Aiton) Salt stress in 3 experiments up to 320 mM NaCl using Petri dishes and hydropriming Seed priming with thiourea and ascorbic acid increased tolerance to salinity up to 120 mM by increasing phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, p-coumaric, p-benzoic, and sinapic acid) [205] Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Salt stress (150 mM) Priming with 0.12% Cu-chitosan-NP induced an increase in β-carotenoids, total carotenoids [206] Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don Cold stress (4 • C) in growth chamber Decreased alkaloids (vindoline) [207] Glycine max (L.) Merr.…”