The molecular mechanisms of silica nanomaterials enhancing the rice (Oryza sativa L.) resistance to planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens Stal)

Bingxu Cheng; Feiran Chen; Chuanxi Wang; Xiaofei Liu; Le Yue; Xuesong Cao; Zhenyu Wang; Baoshan Xing

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144967

The molecular mechanisms of silica nanomaterials enhancing the rice (Oryza sativa L.) resistance to planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens Stal)

Sci Total Environ. 2021 May 1:767:144967. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144967. Epub 2021 Jan 30.

Authors

Bingxu Cheng¹, Feiran Chen¹, Chuanxi Wang¹, Xiaofei Liu¹, Le Yue¹, Xuesong Cao¹, Zhenyu Wang², Baoshan Xing³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
² Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address: wang0628@jiangnan.edu.cn.
³ Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

PMID: 33636776
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144967

Abstract

Herein, fluorescent silica (F-SiO₂) ENMs (50 nm) were synthesized, which could be taken up and translocated from rice root to shoot, promoting the plant growth and resistance to planthopper compared with Si ion fertilizers under hydroponic conditions. Particularly, upon exposure F-SiO₂ ENMs (5 mg‧L^-1) suspension for 9 days, the fresh and dry weight (FW and DW) of shoot, the root length, surface area, and tip number were increased by 33.58%, 65.22%, 15.26%, 20.26% and 29.01%, respectively. Notably, in the presence of planthopper, the shoot FW and DW still increased by 61.88% and 114.75%, respectively. The increased lignin content (by 30.13%) and formation of silica cells in stem after F-SiO₂ ENMs exposure (5 mg‧L^-1) could be mechanical barriers against planthoppers. The transcriptome data revealed that F-SiO₂ ENMs could upregulate the expression of genes involved in plant-pathogen interactions, plant hormone signal transduction, glucose metabolism and carbon fixation pathway, promoting the growth and resistance of rice seedlings. Our findings provide first evidence for the underlying molecular mechanisms of SiO₂ ENMs enhancing the rice resistance to planthopper.

Keywords: Engineered nanomaterials; Nanopesticides; Rice planthoppers; SiO(2) nanomaterials; Transcriptome.

MeSH terms

Animals
Hemiptera*
Nanostructures*
Oryza* / genetics
Plant Growth Regulators
Silicon Dioxide / toxicity

Substances

Plant Growth Regulators
Silicon Dioxide