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Tailoring Core-Shell Metal Coordination for Smart Seed Coatings in Sustainable Agriculture
Katya M Aguilar Perez1, Valeriia Nikolaeva1, Bappa Maiti1
1Smart Hybrid Materials Laboratory (SHMs), Chemistry Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 28, 2024
Summary
Nanopriming wheat seeds with Phelm, a novel nanomaterial, significantly boosted growth by 58.6% even in saltwater. This smart nanotechnology enhances crop yield and stress tolerance for sustainable agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Nanotechnology
- Plant Biology
Background:
- Global agriculture faces challenges including low crop yields, poor soil health, and inefficient agrochemical use.
- Nanotechnology, specifically surface functionalization and nanopriming, shows potential for improving crop yield and stress tolerance but has limited adoption.
- There is a need for innovative solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly under abiotic stress conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel multicomponent nanoplatform, Phelm (Phenolic network with a lipid core and metal coordinated shell), for seed treatment.
- To encapsulate the plant growth regulator indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) within the Phelm platform for controlled release.
- To assess the efficacy of Phelm-based nanopriming in improving wheat seed germination and growth, especially under high salt stress.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of the Phelm nanoplatform, consisting of a lipid core loaded with IAA and a metal-coordinated phenolic shell (tannic acid and Fe3+).
- Application of Phelm as a seed treatment (nanopriming) for wheat seeds.
- Evaluation of wheat seed growth parameters and germination rates under varying concentrations of saltwater irrigation (up to 100 mM).
Main Results:
- Phelm successfully encapsulated indole-3 acetic acid (IAA).
- Wheat seeds treated with Phelm exhibited a significant increase in growth parameters, up to 58.6%, compared to controls.
- Phelm-enhanced seeds demonstrated remarkable protection and improved germination even when irrigated with high salt concentrations (100 mM saltwater).
Conclusions:
- Nanopriming using the Phelm platform is an effective strategy to enhance crop yield and abiotic stress tolerance in wheat.
- The Phelm core/shell assembly offers a versatile system for encapsulating various agrochemicals and biostimulants.
- This nanotechnology holds promise for advancing sustainable and smart agricultural practices to improve food security.
