Role of iron oxide nanoparticles in maize (Zea mays L.) to enhance salinity stress tolerance

Authors

  • Asif MUKHTIAR University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Department of Botany, Faisalabad 38040 (PK)
  • Muhammad A. ZIA University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Department of Biochemistry, Faisalabad 38040 (PK)
  • Hussam F.N. ALAWADI Al-Qadisiyah University, College of Agriculture (IQ)
  • Maria NAQVE University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Department of Botany, Faisalabad 38040 (PK)
  • Mahmoud F. SELEIMAN King Saud University, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Department of Plant Production, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451 (SA)
  • Athar MAHMOOD University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Department of Agronomy, Faisalabad 38040 (PK)
  • Muhammad I. MAJEED University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Department of Chemistry, Faisalabad 38040 (PK)
  • Muhammad B. HAFEEZ University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Department of Agronomy, Faisalabad 38040 (PK)
  • Bilal A. KHAN University of Sargodha, College of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Sargodha, 40100; Texas A&M University, College Station, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, TX (PK)
  • Naeem KHAN University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Agronomy Department, Gainesville FL, 32611 (PK)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha52313695

Keywords:

antioxidants, FeO-NPs, ion homeostasis, maize, NaCl

Abstract

Soils have been getting worse over time, which has led to lower crop yields and nutritional value. This is because of too many conventional fertilizers, anthropogenic activities, and climate change. Soil salinity is also a big problem and challenge for agricultural scientists. To address this issue, nanoparticles are gaining a reputation in agriculture that can enhance salinity tolerance in crops, especially at early growth stages.  A pot experiment was conducted at Post Agricultural Research Station (PARS), Faisalabad to assess the impact of iron oxide nanoparticles (0, 15, and 30 ppm) and four levels of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) on morphological, physiological and yield traits of maize (Zea mays L.) in salinity stress. Salinity stress significantly negatively affected the growth attributes, photosynthetic pigments, ion content (Na+, K+, and Ca2+) of maize plants. Salinity has also increased the levels of MDA, H2O2, and Na+ ions. The application of iron oxide nanoparticles through foliar spray had a notable impact in enhancing the growth and yield of the tested maize variety. It was achieved by promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes, increasing photosynthetic pigments, and elevating K+ and Ca2+ ion levels under both normal and salinity-stressed conditions. Additionally, iron oxide nanoparticles mitigated the adverse effects of salinity stress by effectively reducing Na+ ion concentration, MDA levels, and H2O2 concentration. Among the different concentrations tested, 30 ppm of iron oxide nanoparticles proved best in alleviating the negative impacts of salinity stress in maize. Thus, field use of 30 ppm iron oxide nanoparticles as foliar spray could effectively mitigate salinity stress in maize.

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2024-08-20

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MUKHTIAR, A., ZIA, M. A., ALAWADI, H. F., NAQVE, M., SELEIMAN, M. F., MAHMOOD, A., MAJEED, M. I., HAFEEZ, M. B., KHAN, B. A., & KHAN, N. (2024). Role of iron oxide nanoparticles in maize (Zea mays L.) to enhance salinity stress tolerance. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 52(3), 13695. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha52313695

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Vol. 52 No. 3 (2024)

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Research Articles
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DOI: 10.15835/nbha52313695

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Copyright (c) 2024 Asif MUKHTIAR , Muhammad Anjum ZIA, Hussam F. Najeeb ALAWADI, Maria NAQVE, Mahmoud F. SELEIMAN, Athar MAHMOOD, Muhammad Irfan MAJEED, Muhammad Bilal HAFEEZ, Bilal Ahmad KHAN, Naeem KHAN

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