Chitosan nanoparticles as combat salinity stress to improve biochemical characteristics and seedling vigor in maize (Zea maize L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agriculture Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt

Abstract

Salt stress is classified as an abiotic stressor and is recognised as a significant contributor to the decline in agricultural output. Nanoparticles have emerged as a prominent material in contemporary agricultural research due to their distinctive physicochemical characteristics. The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of (ChNPs) on the morphological features and biochemical properties of Zea maize L. seedlings (Giza168) under salt stress using various concentrations of NaCl (0%, 100%, 200, 300, and 350 mM). The result showed that the proportion of seeds that germinated, the length of the shoots, the dry weight of the seedlings, and the amount of chlorophyll they contained all decreased significantly when the concentration of NaCl was increased. Seeds treated with ChNPs before to planting had a higher germination rate, heavier seedlings, longer shoots, and more chlorophyll than those planted with untreated seeds. The activities of catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) enzymes increased due to salinity stress, but the highest values of CAT were observed with ChNPs at 300 mM NaCl. Whereas, the highest value of POX was found with ChNPs at 350 mM NaCl. Increasing activities of antioxidant enzymes may be lead to an increase in tolerance to salinity stress. Furthermore, pre-treatment with ChNPs, led to appear of new protein bands others disappeared with different molecular weights under salinity in all seedlings.. Finally, it could be concluded that pre-treatment of seeds with 0.3% ChNPs as soaking markedly reduced the harmful effects of salinity stress and also improved all the measured parameters.

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Al-Azhar Journal of Agricultural Research
Volume 48, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Special Issue: Agriculture and Futuristic Challenges (Food Security: Challenges and Confrontation)
October 2023
Pages 401-415

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