Synergetic Effects of Zinc, Boron, Silicon, and Zeolite Nanoparticles on Confer Tolerance in Potato Plants Subjected to Salinity

Abstract

Salinity stress is a severe environmental stress that affects plant growth and productivity of potato, a strategic crop moderately sensitive to saline soils. Limited studies are available on the use of combined nano-micronutrients to ameliorate salinity stress in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.). Two open field experiments were conducted in salt-affected sandy soil to investigate plant growth, physiology, and yield of potato in response to soil salinity stress under single or combined application of Zn, B, Si, and Zeolite nanoparticles. It was hypothesized that soil application of nanoparticles enhanced plant growth and yield by alleviating the adverse impact of soil salinity. In general, all the nano-treatments applications significantly increased plant height, shoot dry weight, number of stems per plant, leaf relative water content, leaf photosynthetic rate, leaf stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and tuber yield, as compared to the untreated control. Furthermore, soil application of these treatments increased the concentration of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and B) in plant tissues, leaf proline, and leaf gibberellic acid hormone (GA3) in addition to contents of protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidant enzymes (polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) in tubers. Compared to other treatments, the combined application of nanoparticles showed the highest plant growth, physiological parameters, endogenous elements (N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and B) and the lowest concentration of leaf abscisic acid (ABA) and transpiration rate. The present findings suggest that soil addition of the aforementioned nanoparticles can be a promising approach to improving crop productivity in salt-affected soils.

Comparative Effects of Different Organic and Inorganic Fertilisers on Soil Fertility, Plant Growth, Soil Microbial Community, and Storage Ability of Lettuce

“…Similar results were reported by Muymas et al (2015) who observed that lettuce fresh weight, dry weight, leaf number, width, and length had increased by applying chitin-rich residues. The less effect of compost on fresh weight of lettuce head and SPAD reading in this study might be due to its lower content of nutrients, as reported by Murakami et al (2011) and Mahmoud et al (2020).…”

Assessment of Morpho-Physiological, Biochemical and Antioxidant Responses of Tomato Landraces to Salinity Stress

“…An increase in salt content in the growing environment increases salt stress on plant growth. Salinity results in reduced yield because of the reduction in photosynthesis efficiency, chlorophyll, total protein, biomass, stomata closure, and increasing oxidative stress [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The salinity response varies from plant to plant, the stage of growth, and the salinity level.…”

Zinc and Paclobutrazol Mediated Regulation of Growth, Upregulating Antioxidant Aptitude and Plant Productivity of Pea Plants under Salinity

“…In addition, the seeds are an excellent source of carbohydrates, minerals (calcium and iron), and vitamins (thiamin, tocopherols, niacin, and folic acid) [ 22 ]. Earlier reports have individually documented that zinc or PBZ, as cost-effective agents, have multiple biochemical functions in plant development under stressful conditions [ 14 , 23 , 24 ]. Conversely, their integrative application on inducing pea salt tolerance, to our knowledge, has not been documented and required more exploration.…”