Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Agricultural Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
2
Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a valuable origin of natural sweeteners with potential health and economic benefits, making it a desirable alternative to traditional sugar. Nonetheless, salinity stress can significantly impact stevia plant growth, development, and steviol glycoside production. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of different nanoparticles (NPs) including chitosan, Fe3O4, Fe₃O₄/humic acid, and chitosan/Cu, in mitigating salinity stress and improving stevia growth and germination. The optimal concentrations were determined to be 2 mM, 1.4 mM, 0.1 mM, and 0.2 mM for chitosan, chitosan/Cu, and Fe₃O₄, and for Fe₃O₄/humic acid, respectively. For 30 days, Stevia plants were exposed to different concentrations and subjected to various levels of salt stress (0, 50, 100, 150, and 175 mM NaCl). Physiological parameters (growth, germination %), biochemical parameters (enzyme activities, proline content, photosynthetic pigments), and total stevioside content (TS) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that chitosan NPs (2 mM) effectively alleviated salinity stress and improved overall plant health, significantly increasing total stevioside content. Fe₃O₄/humic acid (0.2 mM) significantly enhanced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll (a+b), a ratio of chlorophyll a/b, and total carotenoid. These findings suggest that these nano-biofertilizers hold great potential as a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to improving stevia productivity in saline conditions, potentially contributing to the development of smart agricultural practices.
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