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Engineered magnetic nanoparticles enhance chlorophyll content and growth of barley through the induction of photosystem genes

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Abstract

This study investigates the impact of an engineered magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) on a crop plant. For this purpose, a sonochemical synthetic approach was utilized in order to dope magnetic elements (Co and Nd) into technologically important iron oxide NPs. After being characterized by using TEM, SEM, and XRD instruments, the MNPs were hydroponically applied to barley plants with varying doses (from 125 to 1000 mg/L) both in germination (4 days) and early growing stages (3 weeks). Physiological responses, as well as expression of photosystem marker genes, were assessed. Compared to the untreated control, MNP treatment enhanced germination rate (~ 31%), tissue growth (8% in roots, 16% in shoots), biomass (~ 21%), and chlorophyll (a, b) (~ 20%), and carotenoids (~ 22%) pigments. In general, plants showed the highest growth enhancement at 125 or 250 mg/L treatment. However, higher doses diminished the growth indices. Compared to the control, the catalase activity was significantly reduced in the leaves (~ 33%, p < 0.005) but stimulated in the roots (~ 46%, p < 0.005). All tested photosystem marker genes (BCA, psbA, and psaA) were overexpressed in MNP-treated leaves than non-treated control. Moreover, the gene expressions were found to be proportionally increased with increasing MNP doses, indicating a positive correlation between MNPs and the photosynthetic machinery, which could contribute to the enhancement of plant growth.

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Abbreviations

MNPs:

magnetic nanoparticles

NPs:

nanoparticles

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

H2O2 :

hydrogen peroxide

RWC:

relative water content

Ms:

saturation magnetization

Hc:

coercivity

Mr:

remanent magnetization

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Funding

This study is supported by Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) fund of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) under the project numbers of 2018-139-IRMC and 2019-058-IRMC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 34221, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Huseyin Tombuloglu & Thamer Alshammari

  2. Department of Biophysics, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 34221, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Yassine Slimani & Munirah Almessiere

  3. Adnan Kahveci Mah., Mimar Sinan Cad., Mavisu evl, 7/28 Beylikduzu-, Istanbul, Turkey

    Guzin Tombuloglu

  4. Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia

    Munirah Almessiere

  5. Department of Chemistry, Istanbul Medeniyet University, 34700 Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayşe Demir Korkmaz

  6. Department of Nanomedicine, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 34221, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulhadi Baykal

  7. Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Anna Cristina S. Samia

Authors
  1. Huseyin Tombuloglu
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  2. Yassine Slimani
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  3. Guzin Tombuloglu
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  4. Thamer Alshammari
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  5. Munirah Almessiere
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  6. Ayşe Demir Korkmaz
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  7. Abdulhadi Baykal
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  8. Anna Cristina S. Samia
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The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Huseyin Tombuloglu.

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Tombuloglu, H., Slimani, Y., Tombuloglu, G. et al. Engineered magnetic nanoparticles enhance chlorophyll content and growth of barley through the induction of photosystem genes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 34311–34321 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09693-1

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