Ashraf Hina, Ramzan Musarrat, Ahmad Muhammad Zaheer, Naz Gul, Usman Sheeraz, Shah Anis Ali, Shaffique Shifa, Alataway Abed, Elansary Hosam O
Department Botany, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Department of Botany, Faculty of Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 20;15(1):30633. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-16397-4.
Salinity is one of the biggest limitations of agriculture in semi-arid regions of the world. It negatively impacts the growth and yield of Zea mays L. Especially the seedling stage is extremely sensitive to salt stress. Sargassum tenerrimum J. Agardh. is a macroalgae which produces a plethora of important secondary metabolites, micro and macro-nutrients, polyamines and natural phytohormones etc. These compounds have been reported to improve plant growth and alleviate the harmful effects of salt stress. The current study explores the effectiveness of algal based Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in alleviating NaCl stress in Zea mays. The study involved two levels of NaCl (0 = control and 200 mmol kg) and four levels (0, 30, 60 and 80 ppm) of ZnO-NPs applied through foliar spray. A notable enhancement was observed for morphological parameters Shoot length: 18.92%; root length: 18.56%; shoot fresh weight: 38.94%; dry weight: 23.74% and root fresh weight: 21.43% dry weight (27.97%) photosynthetic pigments (chl a: 40.98%; chl b: 93.55%; total chlorophyll: 55.38% and carotenoid 43.5%) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters also exhibited a remarkable enhancement at 80 ppm ZNO-NPs under salt stress. Decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzymes (POD: 25.67%; SOD: 25.67%; CAT: 59.85% and APX: 54.21%) as well as non-enzymatic anti-oxidants (GSH: 34.67%; GR: 52.80%; AsA: 10.47% and lycopene: 34.40%) were also observed at 80 ppm ZnO-NPs under salt stress. The foliar application of ZnO-NPs significantly decreased MDA and HO levels 38.40% and 32.80% and uptake of Na⁺ (34.25%) and Cl (38.65%) respectively. while an increase in the total soluble proteins (87.50%), K uptake (77.27%), water content (74.63%) and salt tolerance index (17.12%) was observed with application of 80 ppm ZnO-NPs. This study provides important insight into the potential of algal based ZnO-NPs as a low cost and ecofriendly method for managing salinized soil.
盐度是世界半干旱地区农业面临的最大限制因素之一。它对玉米的生长和产量产生负面影响。特别是幼苗期对盐胁迫极为敏感。柔弱马尾藻是一种大型藻类，能产生大量重要的次生代谢产物、微量和常量营养素、多胺以及天然植物激素等。据报道，这些化合物可促进植物生长并减轻盐胁迫的有害影响。本研究探讨了基于藻类的氧化锌纳米颗粒（ZnO-NPs）在缓解玉米NaCl胁迫方面的有效性。该研究涉及两个NaCl水平（0 = 对照和200 mmol/kg）以及通过叶面喷施施加的四个ZnO-NPs水平（0、30、60和80 ppm）。在盐胁迫下，80 ppm ZnO-NPs处理的形态参数显著提高：茎长：18.92%；根长：18.56%；地上部鲜重：38.94%；干重：23.74%；根鲜重：21.43%（干重：27.97%）；光合色素（叶绿素a：40.98%；叶绿素b：93.55%；总叶绿素：55.38%；类胡萝卜素：43.5%）以及叶绿素荧光参数也有显著提高。在盐胁迫下，80 ppm ZnO-NPs处理还使抗氧化酶水平（过氧化物酶：25.67%；超氧化物歧化酶：25.67%；过氧化氢酶：59.85%；抗坏血酸过氧化物酶：54.21%）以及非酶抗氧化剂（谷胱甘肽：34.67%；谷胱甘肽还原酶：52.80%；抗坏血酸：10.47%；番茄红素：34.40%）降低。叶面喷施ZnO-NPs分别显著降低了丙二醛和过氧化氢水平38.40%和32.80%，以及Na⁺（34.25%）和Cl⁻（38.65%）的吸收。而在施用80 ppm ZnO-NPs时，观察到总可溶性蛋白增加（87.50%）、K⁺吸收增加（77.27%）、含水量增加（74.63%）以及耐盐指数增加（17.12%）。本研究为基于藻类的ZnO-NPs作为一种低成本且环保的盐碱地治理方法的潜力提供了重要见解。
