Genotoxic Evaluation of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles in Different Three Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes to Explore the Stress-Resistant Molecules

Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs) promote drought tolerance and improve plant health, grain quality and yield in kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

As a primary abiotic constraint for bean cultivation in semi-arid regions, drought stress significantly impacts both the yield and quality of beans. Foliar application of nanofertilizer has been shown to effectively improve crop yield and nutritional quality while mitigating environmental pollution associated with fertilizer runoff. In this study, we conducted a semi-field study using magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs) to evaluate its effects on the growth, yield, nutrient quality, photosynthetic parameters, and physiological traits in kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) subjected to drought stress and compared with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4; ionic Fe). Our findings revealed that moderate drought stress (50 % field water capacity) severely impaired growth and photosynthetic activity in kidney bean in untreated control plants. Notably, application of 500-1000 mg Fe L-1 as Fe3O4NPs, in contrast to 1000 mg Fe L-1 of ionic Fe, resulted in increased yield (29-72 %), grain quality (protein 7-17 % and iron 10-45 %), and photosynthetic apparatus (245-259 % for Chla; 203-260 % for Chlb), under drough condition. Furthermore, foliar applications of Fe3O4NPs promoted drought tolerance by increasing relative water content and proline levels, vis-à-vis reducing membrane lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. It is concluded that Fe3O4NPs at 500-1000 mg L-1 could significantly promote growth, quality, and physiological attributes in kidney bean under moderate drought stress, underscoring the potential advantages of using nano‑iron over ionic iron fertilizers for improved agriculture production.

The Impact of Nanomaterials on Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Mechanisms in Gramineae Plants: Research Progress and Future Prospects

As global food security faces challenges, enhancing crop yield and stress resistance becomes imperative. This study comprehensively explores the impact of nanomaterials (NMs) on Gramineae plants, with a focus on the effects of various types of nanoparticles, such as iron-based, titanium-containing, zinc, and copper nanoparticles, on plant photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activity. We found that the effects of nanoparticles largely depend on their chemical properties, particle size, concentration, and the species and developmental stage of the plant. Under appropriate conditions, specific NMs can promote the root development of Gramineae plants, enhance photosynthesis, and increase chlorophyll content. Notably, iron-based and titanium-containing nanoparticles show significant effects in promoting chlorophyll synthesis and plant growth. However, the impact of nanoparticles on oxidative stress is complex. Under certain conditions, nanoparticles can enhance plants' antioxidant enzyme activity, improving their ability to withstand environmental stresses; excessive or inappropriate NMs may cause oxidative stress, affecting plant growth and development. Copper nanoparticles, in particular, exhibit this dual nature, being beneficial at low concentrations but potentially harmful at high concentrations. This study provides a theoretical basis for the future development of nanofertilizers aimed at precisely targeting Gramineae plants to enhance their antioxidant stress capacity and improve photosynthesis efficiency. We emphasize the importance of balancing the agricultural advantages of nanotechnology with environmental safety in practical applications. Future research should focus on a deeper understanding of the interaction mechanisms between more NMs and plants and explore strategies to reduce potential environmental impacts to ensure the health and sustainability of the ecosystem while enhancing the yield and quality of Gramineae crops.

Metabolomics as a Tool to Understand Nano-Plant Interactions: The Case Study of Metal-Based Nanoparticles

Metabolomics is a powerful tool in diverse research areas, enabling an understanding of the response of organisms, such as plants, to external factors, their resistance and tolerance mechanisms against stressors, the biochemical changes and signals during plant development, and the role of specialized metabolites. Despite its advantages, metabolomics is still underused in areas such as nano-plant interactions. Nanoparticles (NPs) are all around us and have a great potential to improve and revolutionize the agri-food sector and modernize agriculture. They can drive precision and sustainability in agriculture as they can act as fertilizers, improve plant performance, protect or defend, mitigate environmental stresses, and/or remediate soil contaminants. Given their high applicability, an in-depth understanding of NPs' impact on plants and their mechanistic action is crucial. Being aware that, in nano-plant interaction work, metabolomics is much less addressed than physiology, and that it is lacking a comprehensive review focusing on metabolomics, this review gathers the information available concerning the metabolomic tools used in studies focused on NP-plant interactions, highlighting the impact of metal-based NPs on plant metabolome, metabolite reconfiguration, and the reprogramming of metabolic pathways.

Impact of Different Nanoparticles on Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plants, Course, and Intensity of Photosynthesis

The size of nanoparticles (NPs) allows them to accumulate in plants, and they affect plant growth by altering the size of leaves and roots and affecting their photosynthetic reactions by altering the composition of proteins in the electron transport chain, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and carbohydrate synthesis reactions. Plants play an important role on Earth as nutrient producers in all trophic food webs by producing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and synthesizing edible carbohydrates during photosynthesis. In this study, Fe3O4 and ZnO NPs at various concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/l) were used to investigate the effect of NPs on plant morphological parameters and photosynthesis intensity, determining the amount of chlorophyll and the absorption of their light spectrum in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Fe3O4 (25 nm, 2 mg/l, and 4 mg/l) and ZnO (32 nm, 4 mg/l) significantly increased the leaf length of common wheat seedlings. However, Fe3O4 NPs (25 nm, 1 mg/l, and 4 mg/l) significantly reduced light absorption at 645 and 663 nm and the content of chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a, and total chlorophyll, but Fe3O4 (25 nm, 2 mg/l) significantly reduced the chlorophyll a content. In addition, ZnO NPs (32 nm, 1 mg/l) significantly increased the chlorophyll b content. This study has made a major contribution to understanding the effect of low concentrations of NPs on plant seedlings. Currently, NPs with high concentrations, starting at 10 mg/l, have been analysed in other studies, but in the environment, NPs enter plants in low concentrations as dust or through water droplets. Therefore, it is important to determine the potential impact of small concentrations of NPs on crops that are important for agriculture.