Systematic validation and integration analysis of iron nanomaterials in alleviating plant stress: a data-driven approach

Abstract

Environmental adverse stressors easily induce the overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species in plant cells, thereby compressing their photosynthetic capacity and development. Iron nanomaterial (Fe NM) regulation of reactive oxygen species is an efficient strategy for nanoenabled sustainable agriculture. Through meta-data analysis, machine learning, and model construction, we systematically established a unified framework among oxidative stress, defense, photosynthesis, and growth relations for Fe NM enhancement of plant stress tolerance. It indicated that exposure types, contents, sizes, duration, and reaction medium of Fe NMs are the main factors for mitigating both photosynthetic damage and growth inhibition in plants. The potential regulatory processes of Fe NMs for alleviating plant stress in photosynthetic systems can be categorized as either a significant nano-effect that activates antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic metabolites, or an accompanying ion effect for iron homeostasis. Additionally, we discussed the current research gaps concerning Fe NMs applied for promoting plant tolerance. This review discusses how Fe NMs reconstruct the balance of oxidative stress and defense and further promote plant photosynthesis and growth, which can provide reliable guidance for future research on plants under environmental stress.