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Synthesis of calcium-based nanofertilizer and its efficacy towards reduction of oxidative stress and fluoride uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
Abstract
Highlights
- Calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) were synthesized through the green route.
- CaO NPs improved the overall growth of rice seedlings under fluoride stress.
- Oxidative stress was reduced in fluoride-stressed seedlings under CaO NPs treatments.
- Fluoride uptake and translocation in root and shoot were arrested upon application of CaO NPs.
The phytotoxicity of fluoride and its build-up in agricultural plants and subsequently the entry into the food chain is a serious threat to human health. The present study highlighted the green synthesis of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) and characterization using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. Further, synthesized CaO NPs (0, 10, and 50?mg/L) were applied on fluoride-stressed (10?mg/L) rice seedlings to check its possible ameliorative effects towards growth and fluoride accumulation in different parts of rice seedlings. Characterization revealed that nanoparticles were crystalline (46.72?%) and spherical in shape, with an average diameter of 20–25?nm. Results of the seedling growth analysis revealed that CaO NPs inhibited the translocation of fluoride in rice plants, which in turn decreased the phytotoxicity caused by fluoride, including lipid peroxidation and chlorosis, and enhanced the overall growth of seedlings. The co-exposure of CaO NPs with fluoride also showed a reduction in the fluoride-induced oxidative stress, as demonstrated by lower MDA, O2•- contents, and activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and POD) as compared to fluoride treatment alone. The application of CaO NPs also restored potassium content in seedlings grown under fluoride stress. Furthermore, the highest reduction of fluoride accumulation by 65 and 76?% in roots and shoots was recorded at 50?mg/L of CaO NPs treatment, respectively. Therefore, the present study clearly indicated the ameliorative potential of CaO NPs towards fluoride stress in rice. However, a field study is needed to establish the social acceptance of this valuable nanofertilizer in fluoride-contaminated areas.
Graphical Abstract
Original abstract online at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773111124000305
Excerpts:
… Compared to nanomaterials derived from heavy metals such as silver, gold, zinc, copper, etc., employing a macronutrient nanoparticle like calcium could be a more sustainable approach (Koley et al., 2023a, Mazhar et al., 2023). Therefore, the present work attempts to synthesize nanoparticles of calcium and investigates the amelioration potential of this nanomaterial toward fluoride-induced toxicity in rice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of using CaO NPs to reduce fluoride toxicity and accumulation in different parts of rice plants.
… Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a significant staple crop grown worldwide. Asian countries such as India, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the leading producers of rice and those are identified as the areas having fluoride-contaminated underground water (Banerjee et al., 2021, Koley et al., 2023a). The cultivation of rice largely depends on underground water, and unknowingly rice crop is contaminated with fluoride coming from contaminated groundwater. Significant fluoride buildup in different tissues of rice plants has been thoroughly reported in previous studies (Mishra et al., 2021, Banerjee and Roychoudhury, 2019). So, at present day, the toxicity of fluoride in rice is a serious issue of concern. Growing rice in fluoride-contaminated soil results in severe growth retardation and a large yield loss. Several fluoride-mediated toxicities in rice including reduced seed germination, seedling growth, pigment degradation, and generation of oxidative stress which causes severe physiological alteration such as enzyme activity and protein synthesis have also been reported by several researchers (Banerjee et al., 2021, Mondal, 2017, Mondal and Gupta, 2015).