Deciphering the fertilizing and disease suppression potential of phytofabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles on Brassicajuncea

Shailja Dhiman; Ajit Varma; Mahesh Rao; Ram Prasad; Arti Goel

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116276

Deciphering the fertilizing and disease suppression potential of phytofabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles on Brassicajuncea

Environ Res. 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 3):116276. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116276. Epub 2023 May 29.

Authors

Shailja Dhiman¹, Ajit Varma¹, Mahesh Rao², Ram Prasad³, Arti Goel⁴

Affiliations

¹ Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University of Uttar Pradesh, India.
² National Institute of Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India.
³ Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, 845401, Bihar, India. Electronic address: rpjnu2001@gmail.com.
⁴ Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University of Uttar Pradesh, India. Electronic address: agoel2@amity.edu.

PMID: 37257749
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116276

Abstract

Every year 30-50% of crops suffer from fungal and bacterial diseases. Use of various chemically synthesized fungicides and bactericides make the soil environment more toxic and harmful to the plant health. Therefore, there is need to find non-toxic and cost effective alternative against plant pathogen. In recent years, nanotechnology has got attention because of its wide application in different areas of agriculture. Various nanoparticles have been used in agriculture for their fertilizing and antimicrobial potential. Among them zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have gained the attention of agriculturists as zinc is an essential micronutrient for plants. Antifungal activity of Tb-ZnO NPs (Terminalia bellerica synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles) against Alternaria brassicae causative agent of blight disease in Brassica juncea has been reported in our previous study. To use Tb-ZnO NPs as nanofungicides and simultaneously as nanofertilizers, the doses of Tb-ZnO NPs beneficial to the Brassica juncea crop is need to be known. Therefore, experiment has been designed to see the protective and curative potential of Tb-ZnO NPs in alluvial and calcareous soil. Biochemical constituents and stress enzymes analysis has shown significant potential of Tb-ZnO NPs at 200 ppm concentration in alleviating the stress caused by A. brassicae by modulating the photosynthetic, biochemical and enzymatic characteristics. Growth parameter analysis confirmed the role of Tb-ZnO NPs in increasing root and shoot length of B. juncea. Yield component such as seed number, seed weight and oil content of B. juncea crop also has been increased. There was one-fold increase in oil content of B. juncea as compared to control. Maximum percent disease control was found to be 70% in alluvial soil (protective method) grown plants. Therefore, present study supports the hypothesis of a relationship between nutrients and disease suppression.

Keywords: Alluvial and calcareous soil; Alternaria brassicae; Foliar application; Nanofertilizer; Nanofungicide.

MeSH terms

Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Plants
Soil
Zinc
Zinc Oxide* / chemistry
Zinc Oxide* / toxicity

Substances

Zinc Oxide
Zinc
Soil