Calcium nanoparticles (Ca-NPs) improve drought stress tolerance in Brassica napus by modulating the photosystem II, nutrient acquisition and antioxidant performance

Ahsan Ayyaz; Rouyi Fang; Junyi Ma; Fakhir Hannan; Qian Huang; Habib-Ur-Rehman Athar; Yongqi Sun; Muhammad Javed; Shafaqat Ali; Weijun Zhou; Muhammad Ahsan Farooq

doi:10.1016/j.impact.2022.100423

Calcium nanoparticles (Ca-NPs) improve drought stress tolerance in Brassica napus by modulating the photosystem II, nutrient acquisition and antioxidant performance

NanoImpact. 2022 Oct:28:100423. doi: 10.1016/j.impact.2022.100423. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Crop Science, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
² Institute of Botany, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan.
³ Institute of Botany, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan; Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, AllamaIqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Institute of Crop Science, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wjzhou@zju.edu.cn.
⁶ Institute of Crop Science, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: ahsanfarooq143@yahoo.com.

PMID: 36084849
DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2022.100423

Abstract

Foliar-application of nano-particles enhanced the foliar nutrient status and crop growth and yield. It is hypothesized that being second messenger molecule, supplementation of Ca²⁺ via calcium nanoparticles (Ca-NPs) can trigger various signaling pathways of physiological processes which can lead to alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress on the growth of canola (Brassica napus L.). Nano-enabled foliar-application could be an ideal strategy for advancing agricultural productivity. The present study explored the role of calcium nanoparticles (Ca-NPs) in alleviating drought stress in hydroponic Brassica napus (B. napus) plants. The foliar applied Ca-NPs were spherically shaped with an average size of 86 nm. Foliar application of 100 mg L^-1 Ca-NPs enhanced biomass of canola plants and considered as optimal dose. Ca-NPs at 100 mg L^-1 has a greater favorable impact on mesophyll ultrastructure, PSI and PSII efficacy, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll content, and mineral absorption. The Ca-NPs treatment increased NPQ and Y(NPQ) under drought condition, indicating a higher PSII protective response to stressed conditions with better heat dissipation as a photoprotective component of NPQ. Ca-NPs application also reduced oxidative stress damage as measured by a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in terms of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (H₂O₂ and MDA). Furthermore, Ca-NPs induced drought tolerance response corresponded to an increased in key antioxidative defense enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX), as well as non-enzymatic components (protease, lipoxygenase, proline, total soluble protein contents, endogenous hormonal biosynthesis), and secondary metabolite expression in B. napus plants. Taken together, the results of this study offer new insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which B. napus responds to Ca-NPs exposure.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Brassica napus; Calcium nanoparticles; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Hormones; Secondary metabolites.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antioxidants / pharmacology
Brassica napus*
Calcium
Hydrogen Peroxide
Photosystem II Protein Complex*

Substances

Photosystem II Protein Complex
Calcium
Antioxidants
Hydrogen Peroxide