Response of Maize Seedlings to Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) under Drought Stress

Abstract

Recently, the use of nanofertilizers has received a great deal of attention in managing plants under biotic and abiotic stresses. However, studies that elucidate the role of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) in regulating maize tolerance to drought stress are still at early stages of development. In this study, plants that were treated with SiO2NPs (0.25 g/L as foliar spray) displayed considerable improvement in the growth indices, despite being subjected to drought stress. In addition, the action of SiO2NPs led to a considerable rise in the levels of chlorophylls, proline, cell membrane integrity, leaf water content, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POX)). In contrast, an inverse trend was seen in the oxidative injury, the total amount of soluble sugars, and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX). At the same time, carotenoids were unaffected in SiO2NPs-treated and non-treated plants under drought stress. The results of the molecular investigation that was conducted using qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of the D2 protein of photosystem II (PsbD) was elevated in SiO2NPs-treated plants in response to drought stress, while the expression of the osmotic-like protein (OSM-34) and aquaporin (AQPs) was downregulated in SiO2NPs-treated plants in response to drought stress. This research could pave the way for further investigations into how SiO2NPs boost plant resistance to drought stress.

Responses of In Vitro Strawberry Plants to Drought Stress under the Influence of Nano-Silicon Dioxide

“…In the study, it was reported that drought stress caused a significant decrease in chlorophyll, fresh/dry weight, and biomass, but NaSiO2 application improved the leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll, and biomass under severe water deficiency. Sharf-Eldin et al investigated the response of corn seedlings to NaSiO 2 application under drought stress and reported that 0.25 g L −1 foliar application of NaSiO 2 provided a significant improvement in the growth index of corn plants exposed to drought stress [45]. Researchers also declared that these particles caused a significant increase in chlorophyll, proline, cell membrane integrity, leaf water content, SOD, CAT, and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POX) levels.…”

Role of silica nanoparticles in enhancing drought tolerance of cereal crops

“…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).…”

“…The absorption and accumulation of NPs can vary among different plant species, depending on their uptake mechanisms, physical characteristics, transport, and distribution in specific plant parts which may trigger defence mechanisms in response to NPs (Verma et al, 2022). Si may be administered either directly to the root system as basal dressing (Fetsiukh et al, 2021), or as foliar spray onto plant's leaves (Sharf-Eldin et al, 2023). The foliar spray can penetrate leaves and then be transported to various plant organs through cuticular layer or stomata (Hellala et al, 2020).…”

“…Rice plants typically have a thin cuticle, and the development of the Sicuticle double layer substantially reduces cuticular transpiration. In maize, Sharf-Eldin et al (2023) found the reduction in aquaporins (AQPs) and cysteine-rich protein known as osmotin (OSM-34) expression in SiNPstreated plants indicates improved membrane and RWC integrity as compared to untreated plants under DS. 9 To date, limited information about the impact of SiNPs on ultra-structural changes of cereal crops under water deficit conditions.…”

“…Cereal crops belong to the Gramineae family and are typically grown for their edible components, which include germ, endosperm, and brain, forming their botanical structure. The cereal family includes globally significant grain species such as wheat, maize, rice, oat, millet, sorghum, and rye which play a significant role as a primary source of food or caloric intake in many regions of the world (Sharf-Eldin et al, 2023;Toulotte et al, 2022). Among these, wheat and rice are the most dominant and widely cultivated (Arendt and Zannini, 2013).…”