Biosynthesized Fe-C-dots nanozymes modulate growth, physiological and phytochemical peculiarity to improve saline-alkaline stress tolerance in wheat

IF 6.1 2区生物学 Q1 PLANT SCIENCES

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI:10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109777

Keyu Chen , Ming Hao , Tao Yuan , Songyue Chai , Gehong Su , Chun Wu , Mengmeng Sun , Yanying Wang , Shiling Feng , Dengcai Liu , Hanbing Rao , Zhiwei Lu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Nanotechnology has shown great potential to improve agricultural production and increase crop tolerance to abiotic stresses, including saline-alkaline environments. This study focuses on the biological mechanism of biocompatible iron-doped carbon dots (Fe-C-dots) nanozyme biosynthesized from artemisinin extract to alleviate saline-alkaline stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Particularly, Fe-C-dots with two types of natural enzyme mimicking properties, target reactive oxygen species (ROS) to assuage oxidative damage and to enhance the antioxidant capacity of enzyme-activated systems. Exogenous application of Fe-C-dots (50 mg/L) significantly promoted wheat growth and increased photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency. At the molecular level, Fe-C-dots treatment activated the nitrogen metabolism pathway of roots, up-regulated the expression of related genes OsNRT2.1, OsGS1, and NADH-GOGAT, and promoted the accumulation of nitrogen in wheat. Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses reveal that Fe-C-dots triggered metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming in wheat seedlings. Besides, Fe-C-dots activated stress signaling and defense-related pathways, such as plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK, and photosynthesis signaling pathways, the cutin, suberin, wax, flavonoids, and phenolic acids biosynthesis. Importantly, compared to the control group, the application of Fe-C-dots under saline-alkaline stress increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) in wheat shoots by 77.5 %, and 78.6 %, respectively. These findings suggested that Fe-C-dots can improve root nitrogen metabolism and stem photosynthesis of wheat, as well as the synthesis of related stress-resistant compounds to cope with the damage of saline-alkaline stress on wheat growth. However, further studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of Fe-C-dots in wheat yield and quality evaluation.

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来源期刊

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 生物-植物科学

CiteScore

11.10

自引率

3.10%

发文量

410

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： Plant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes original theoretical, experimental and technical contributions in the various fields of plant physiology (biochemistry, physiology, structure, genetics, plant-microbe interactions, etc.) at diverse levels of integration (molecular, subcellular, cellular, organ, whole plant, environmental). Opinions expressed in the journal are the sole responsibility of the authors and publication does not imply the editors'' agreement. Manuscripts describing molecular-genetic and/or gene expression data that are not integrated with biochemical analysis and/or actual measurements of plant physiological processes are not suitable for PPB. Also "Omics" studies (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) reporting descriptive analysis without an element of functional validation assays, will not be considered. Similarly, applied agronomic or phytochemical studies that generate no new, fundamental insights in plant physiological and/or biochemical processes are not suitable for publication in PPB. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers. Articles for Reviews are either invited by the editor or proposed by the authors for the editor''s prior agreement. Reviews should not exceed 40 typewritten pages and Short Papers no more than approximately 8 typewritten pages. The fundamental character of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry remains that of a journal for original results.