Abstract
Iron (Fe) oxide nanoparticles (NPs) improve crop growth. However, the comparative effect of root and foliar-applied different sources of Fe oxide NPs on plant performance at morphological and physiological levels still needs to be discovered. In this study, we characterized the growth and physiological responses of hydroponic-cultured maize seedlings to four sources of Fe (i.e., α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, Fe3O4 NPs, and bulk Fe3O4) and two application methods (root vs. foliar). Results showed that Fe concentration in root and shoot increased by elevating the level of NPs from 100 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1. Overall, the responses of maize seedlings to different sources of Fe oxide NPs were as follows: Fe3O4 > γ-Fe2O3 > α-Fe2O3 > bulk Fe3O4. The application of Fe at concentrations ranging from 100 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1 had no significant effects on various growth parameters of maize, including biomass, chlorophyll content, and root length. Iron oxide NPs increased the plant biomass by 23–37% by root application, whereas it was 5–9% by foliar application. Chlorophyll contents were increased by 29–34% and 18–22% by foliar and root applications, respectively. The non-significant response of reactive oxygen species (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase) suggested optimum maize performance for supplementing Fe oxide NPs. A confocal laser scanning microscope suggested that Fe oxide NPs entered through the epidermis and from the cortex to the endodermis. Our results provide a scientific basis that the root application of Fe3O4 at the rate of 100 mg L−1 is a promising approach to obtain higher maize performance and reduce the quantity of fertilizer used in agriculture to minimize environmental effects while improving crop productivity and quality. These findings demonstrated the tremendous potential of Fe NPs as an environmentally friendly and sustainable crop approach.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Root and shoot Fe concentrations increased as nanoparticle dose rose from 100 to 500 mg L−1.
- Treatment
- NPs from 100 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1e0
- Outcome
- Fe concentration in root and shoote0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- 100 mg L−1e0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fe concentration in root and shoot increased by elevating the level of NPs from 100 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize response ranked Fe3O4 above γ-Fe2O3, α-Fe2O3 and bulk Fe3O4.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“responses of maize seedlings to different sources of Fe oxide NPs were as follows: Fe3O4 > γ-Fe2O3 > α-Fe2O3 > bulk Fe3O4”
Claim · model-written summary
Across 100–500 mg L−1, Fe application had no significant effect on maize biomass, chlorophyll or root length.
- Treatment
- Fe at concentrations ranging from 100 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1e0
- Outcome
- biomass, chlorophyll content, and root lengthe0
- Direction
- no significant effectse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The application of Fe at concentrations ranging from 100 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1 had no significant effects on various growth parameters of maize, including biomass, chlorophyll content, and root length”
Claim · model-written summary
Root-applied iron oxide nanoparticles raised plant biomass 23–37%.
- Treatment
- Iron oxide NPse0
- Outcome
- plant biomasse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 23–37%e0
- Qualifier
- root applicatione0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Iron oxide NPs increased the plant biomass by 23–37% by root application, whereas it was 5–9% by foliar application”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar-applied iron oxide nanoparticles raised plant biomass 5–9%.
- Treatment
- Iron oxide NPse0
- Outcome
- plant biomasse0
- Direction
- increaseinferrede0
- Value
- 5–9%e0
- Qualifier
- foliar applicatione0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Iron oxide NPs increased the plant biomass by 23–37% by root application, whereas it was 5–9% by foliar application”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar application increased chlorophyll content 29–34%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Chlorophyll contents were increased by 29–34% and 18–22% by foliar and root applications, respectively”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Root application increased chlorophyll content 18–22%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Chlorophyll contents were increased by 29–34% and 18–22% by foliar and root applications, respectively”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Antioxidant enzymes showed a nonsignificant response to Fe oxide nanoparticles.
- Treatment
- Fe oxide NPse0
- Outcome
- superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidasee0
- Direction
- non-significant responsee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The non-significant response of reactive oxygen species (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase) suggested optimum maize performance for supplementing Fe oxide NPs”
Claim · model-written summary
Imaging suggested nanoparticles moved through epidermis, cortex and endodermis.
- Outcome
- Fe oxide NPs entered through the epidermis and from the cortex to the endodermise0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“A confocal laser scanning microscope suggested that Fe oxide NPs entered through the epidermis and from the cortex to the endodermis”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend root application of Fe3O4 at 100 mg L−1 for maize performance and lower fertilizer use.
- Outcome
- root application of Fe3O4 at the rate of 100 mg L−1e0
- Direction
- highere0
- Qualifier
- reduce the quantity of fertilizer used in agriculturee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the root application of Fe3O4 at the rate of 100 mg L−1 is a promising approach to obtain higher maize performance and reduce the quantity of fertilizer used in agriculture”
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