Recent omics progress in nanobiotechnology for plant abiotic stress tolerance improvement

Use of nanomaterials(NMs)to improve plant abiotic stress tolerance(AST)is a hot topic in NM-enabled agriculture.Previous studies mainly focused on the physiological and biochemical responses of plants treated with NMs under abiotic stress.To use NMs for improving plant AST,it is necessary to understand how they act on this tolerance at the omics and epigenetics levels.In this review,we summarized the knowledge of NM-improved abiotic stress tolerance in relation to omics(such as metabolic,transcriptomic,proteomic,and microRNA),DNA methylation,and histone modifications.Overall,NMs can improve plant abiotic stress tolerance through the modulation at omics and epigenetics levels.

A smart dual-responsive nanoplatform for delivery of prochloraz for the control of rice blast disease

Nano-controlled release formulations present a promising strategy to mitigate pesticide losses and enhance efficiency.In this study,a pH and GSH-responsive nanoplatform using mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles(MONs)as a carrier and poly(tannic acid)(PTA)as capping agent was established for controlling prochloraz(Pro)release.The obtained Pro@MON@PTA was characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).The results indicate the successful preparation of Pro@MON@PTA nanoparticles,featuring uniform particle size(190 nm),excellent dispersibility,and a prochloraz loading efficiency of 17.2%.Evaluation of contact angle and adhesion work demonstrated superior adhesion of MON@PTA to rice leaves compared to MON.Controlled release studies revealed dual-responsive release properties of Pro@MON@PTA to acid and GSH.Additionally,photostability testing indicated effective ultraviolet light shielding by the carrier,reducing prochloraz degradation under irradiation.Bioassay results indicated equivalent fungicidal activity against Magnaporthe oryzae between Pro@MON@PTA and prochloraz technical and prochloraz EW after a 7-day treatment.However,in vivo experiments demonstrated that Pro@MON@PTA exhibited superior control efficacy compared to prochloraz EW.These findings suggested that MON@PTA holds significant potential for plant disease management.

Nanopriming with selenium doped carbon dots improved rapeseed germination and seedling salt tolerance

Soil salinity is a big environmental issue affecting crop production.Although seed nanopriming has been widely used to improve seed germination and seedling growth under salinity,our knowledge about the underlying mechanisms is still insufficient.Herein,we newly synthesized selenium-doped carbon dots nanoparticles coated with poly acrylic acid(poly acrylic acid coated selenium doped carbon dots,PAA@Se-CDs)and used it to prime seeds of rapeseeds.The TEM(transmission electron microscope)size and zeta potential of PAA@Se-CDs are 3.8±0.2 nm and-30 mV,respectively.After 8 h priming,the PAA@Se-CDs nanoparticles were detected in the seed compartments(seed coat,cotyledon,and radicle),while no such signals were detected in the NNP(no nanoparticle control)group(SeO_2 was used as the NNP).Nanopriming with PAA@Se-CDs nanoparticles increased rapeseeds germination(20%)and seedling fresh weight(161%)under saline conditions compared to NNP control.PAA@Se-CDs nanopriming significantly enhanced endo-β-mannanase activities(255%increase,21.55μmol h^(-1)g^(-1)vs.6.06μmol h^(-1)g^(-1),at DAS 1(DAS,days after sowing)),total soluble sugar(33.63 mg g^(-1)FW(fresh weight)vs.20.23 mg g^(-1)FW)and protein contents(1.96μg g^(-1)FW vs.1.0μg g^(-1)FW)to support the growth of germinating seedlings of rapeseeds under salt stress,in comparison with NNP co ntrol.The respiration rate and ATP content were increased by 76%and 607%,respectively.The oxidative damage of salinity due to the overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was alleviated by PAA@Se-CDs nanopriming by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities(SOD(superoxide dismutase),POD(peroxidase),and CAT(catalase)).Another mechanism behind PAA@Se-CDs nanopriming improving rapeseeds salt tolerance at seedling stage was reducing sodium(Na^(+))accumulation and improving potassium(K^(+))retention,hence increasing the K^(+)/Na^(+)ratio under saline conditions.Overall,our results not only showed that seed nanopriming with PAA@Se-CDs could be a good approach to improve salt tolerance,but also add more knowledge to the mechanism behind nanopriming-improved plant salt tolerance at germination and early seedling growth stage.

Identification of propranolol and derivatives that are chemical inhibitors of phosphatidate phosphatase as potential broad-spectrum fungicides

Plant diseases cause enormous economic losses in agriculture and threaten global food security,and application of agrochemicals is an important method of crop disease control.Exploration of disease-resis-tance mechanisms and synthesis of highly bioactive agrochemicals are thus important research objectives.Here,we show that propranolol,a phosphatidate phosphatase(Pah)inhibitor,effectively suppresses fungal growth,sporulation,sexual reproduction,and infection of diverse plants.The MoPah1 enzyme activity of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is inhibited by propranolol.Alterations in lipid metabolism are associated with inhibited hyphal growth and appressorium formation caused by propranolol in M.oryzae.Propranolol inhibits a broad spectrum of 12 plant pathogens,effectively inhibiting infection of barley,wheat,maize,tomato,and pear.To improve antifungal capacity,we synthesized a series of propranolol derivatives,one of which shows a 16-fold increase in antifungal ability and binds directly to MoPah1.Propranolol and its derivatives can also reduce the severity of rice blast and Fusarium head blight of wheat in thefield.Taken together,our results demonstrate that propranolol suppresses fungal development and infection through mechanisms involved in lipid metabolism.Propranolol and its derivatives may therefore be promising candidates for fungicide development.