Mathematical modeling of climate and fluoride effects on sugarcane photosynthesis with silicon nanoparticles.

Fluoride (F) stress is one of the major environmental pollutant, affecting plant growth, development and production, globally. Acquisition of eco-friendly F stress reliever seems to be the major concern these days. Consequently, application of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) has been increasing to improve agri-economy. However, the impact of silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) on mitigation of F stress has not been investigated yet. Thus, the present study was conducted to compare their protective roles against F stress by improving diurnal photosynthetic efficiency of sugarcane plant leaves. An ability of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum cv. GT44) plants to ameliorate F toxicity assessed through soil culture medium. After an adaptive growth phase, 45 days old plants select to examine F mitigative efficacy of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs: 0, 100, 300 and 500 ppm) on sugarcane plants, irrigated by F contaminated water (0, 100, 200 and 500 ppm). Our results strongly favour that SiNPs enhanced diurnally leaf photosynthetic gas exchange viz., photosynthesis (∼1.0-29%), stomatal conductance (∼3.0-90%), and transpiration rate (∼0.5-43%), significantly, as revealed by increments in photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence efficiency of PS II linked with performance index and photosynthetic pigments during F stress. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation to explore the impact of SiNPs improving and/or maintaining the diurnal photosynthetic responses in sugarcane plants in response to F stress. It may also precisely unlayer action of molecular mechanism(s) mediated by SiNPs, found essential for mitigation of F-toxicity to explore nano-phytoremediation approach for crop improvement and agri-economy as well.