Abstract
Excessive buildup of heavy metals, especially chromium (Cr), in agricultural soils is a serious problem that needs immediate action on a global scale. Cr toxicity limits plant growth, and effective approaches are necessary to alleviate its accumulation in cereals including maize ( Zea mays L.). Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), synthesized by the green method, on maize growth attributes and Cr uptake. The AgNPs were characterized by advanced techniques including Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In the pot experiment, conducted in a greenhouse, two different application methods such as foliar spray and seed priming were assessed and compared. Four AgNP treatment levels (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg L −1 ) were replicated thrice in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements. Results revealed that AgNPs, via foliar and seed priming, enhanced the plant growth attributes including height, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic and transpiration rate of maize plants. Cr concentration significantly increased leaf electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide content, while AgNP application decreased the stress level through improvement in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, treatment of stressed plants with 100 mgL −1 AgNPs alleviated the negative effects of Cr toxicity by effectively reducing its concentration in their roots and shoots. However, foliar application of AgNPs proved more effective than seed priming in Cr stress amelioration. The study demonstrated the potential of green‐synthesized AgNPs, as a viable and eco‐friendly tool, for the management of Cr stress in crops on sustainable basis.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Silver nanoparticles increased maize height and shoot and root fresh and dry weight.
- Treatment
- AgNPs, via foliar and seed priminge0
- Outcome
- height, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weighte0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AgNPs, via foliar and seed priming, enhanced the plant growth attributes including height, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic and transpiration rate of maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Silver nanoparticles increased total chlorophyll content in maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AgNPs, via foliar and seed priming, enhanced the plant growth attributes including height, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic and transpiration rate of maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Silver nanoparticles increased maize photosynthetic and transpiration rates.
- Treatment
- AgNPs, via foliar and seed priminge0
- Outcome
- photosynthetic and transpiration ratee0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AgNPs, via foliar and seed priming, enhanced the plant growth attributes including height, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic and transpiration rate of maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Chromium increased maize leaf electrolyte leakage.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cr concentration significantly increased leaf electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide content”
e1“maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Chromium increased maize hydrogen peroxide content.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cr concentration significantly increased leaf electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide content”
e1“maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Silver nanoparticles reduced chromium stress through improved antioxidant enzyme activities.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AgNP application decreased the stress level through improvement in activities of antioxidant enzymes”
e1“maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
At 100 mgL −1, silver nanoparticles reduced chromium concentration in roots of stressed maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“treatment of stressed plants with 100 mgL −1 AgNPs alleviated the negative effects of Cr toxicity by effectively reducing its concentration in their roots and shoots”
e1“maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
At 100 mgL −1, silver nanoparticles reduced chromium concentration in shoots of stressed maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“treatment of stressed plants with 100 mgL −1 AgNPs alleviated the negative effects of Cr toxicity by effectively reducing its concentration in their roots and shoots”
e1“maize plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar silver nanoparticles ameliorated chromium stress more effectively than seed priming.
- Treatment
- foliar application of AgNPse0
- Outcome
- Cr stress amelioratione0
- Direction
- more effectivee0
- Comparator
- seed priminge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“foliar application of AgNPs proved more effective than seed priming in Cr stress amelioration”
e1“maize plants”
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.