Abstract
We investigated the synergistic effects of putrescine-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (PUT-nZnO) on drought-stressed rice seedlings. Our results demonstrate that PUT-nZnO enhances drought stress (DS) tolerance by improving redox balance, chloroplast integrity, and polyamine (PA) metabolism, offering a novel nano-biotechnological approach for crop resilience. Fourteen-day-old seedlings of rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Swarna Sub1) were treated with PUT by foliar spray, singly and in combination with PUT-nZnO under 12% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced DS. Growth attributes, thermo-imaging, chloroplast ultrastructure, PA and ethylene signaling, relative cell death, redox metabolism, and nuclear lysis were the major parameters used to evaluate stress mitigation. DS initially caused a 48% decrease in relative water content, which was recovered to 126% under PUT-nZnO treatment. PUT-nZnO directly improved membrane integrity, reduced DNA loss, restored ion homeostasis via ATP hydrolysis, and supported cellular conformity and viability. These effects reduced DS-induced oxidative signaling through enhanced antioxidation. Oxidative stress under DS was mitigated, as indicated by a 41% reduction in H 2 O 2 in the DS+PUT-nZnO treatment. Distribution of PAs and the activity of PA-oxidizing enzymes induced energy transfer within the chloroplast and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to activate enzymatic pathways. The mechanism for DS tolerance is indicated by nZnO through securing osmotic turgidity and mineral nutrient support, complemented synergistically by the antioxidation capacity of PUT. This study presents a promising biocompatible strategy for improving drought tolerance in rice during the early growth stage via the combined application of PUT and nZnO.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Drought stress decreased relative water content by 48%.
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e0“DS initially caused a 48% decrease in relative water content”
Claim · model-written summary
PUT-nZnO treatment restored relative water content to 126%.
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e0“relative water content, which was recovered to 126% under PUT-nZnO treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
PUT-nZnO improved membrane integrity.
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e0“PUT-nZnO directly improved membrane integrity”
Claim · model-written summary
PUT-nZnO reduced DNA loss.
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Verbatim
e0“PUT-nZnO directly improved membrane integrity, reduced DNA loss”
Claim · model-written summary
PUT-nZnO restored ion homeostasis via ATP hydrolysis.
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Verbatim
e0“PUT-nZnO directly improved membrane integrity, reduced DNA loss, restored ion homeostasis via ATP hydrolysis”
Claim · model-written summary
PUT-nZnO supported cellular conformity and viability.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“PUT-nZnO directly improved membrane integrity, reduced DNA loss, restored ion homeostasis via ATP hydrolysis, and supported cellular conformity and viability”
Claim · model-written summary
The treatment reduced drought-induced oxidative signaling through enhanced antioxidation.
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Verbatim
e0“These effects reduced DS-induced oxidative signaling through enhanced antioxidation”
Claim · model-written summary
DS+PUT-nZnO reduced hydrogen peroxide by 41%.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
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e0“41% reduction in H 2 O 2 in the DS+PUT-nZnO treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
Polyamine distribution and oxidizing enzyme activity induced chloroplast energy transfer and ROS generation.
- Gene
- PA-oxidizing enzymese0
- Outcome
- energy transfer within the chloroplast and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generatione0
- Direction
- inducede0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Distribution of PAs and the activity of PA-oxidizing enzymes induced energy transfer within the chloroplast and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to activate enzymatic pathways”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors attribute drought tolerance to nZnO support of osmotic turgidity and mineral nutrition together with PUT antioxidation.
- Treatment
- nZnOe0
- Outcome
- DS tolerancee0
- Qualifier
- securing osmotic turgidity and mineral nutrient supporte0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The mechanism for DS tolerance is indicated by nZnO through securing osmotic turgidity and mineral nutrient support, complemented synergistically by the antioxidation capacity of PUT”