Methionine-coated nano zinc oxide: A novel nanopriming agent to enhance antioxidant defence, and agronomic traits in arsenic-stressed rice

Authors

  • Muhammad W. MAZHAR Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Department of Botany, Mirpur, 10250, AJK (PK)
  • Muhammad ISHTIAQ 1) Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Department of Botany, Mirpur, 10250, AJK; 2) Azad Jammu and Kashmir, University of Bhimber (AJKUoB), Department of Botany, Bhimber, 10040, AJK (PK)
  • Mehwish MAQBOOL Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Department of Botany, Mirpur, 10250, AJK (PK)
  • Laila A. AL-SHURAYM Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, College of Science, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 84428, 11671 Riyadh (SA) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1378-9579
  • Lamya A. ALKERIDIS Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, College of Science, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 84428, 11671 Riyadh (SA) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6661-3625
  • Sumaira THIND University of Layyah, Department of Botany, Layyah, 31200 (PK)
  • Abdulrahman ALASMARI University of Tabuk, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 71491, Tabuk (SA) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1212-8581
  • Anila ARSHAD Jiangsu University, School of Agricultural Engineering, Zhenjiang, 212013 (CN)
  • Raheel AKRAM Chiang Mai University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Research Laboratory for Analytical Instrument and Electrochemistry Innovation, Chiang Mai, 50200 (TH)
  • Muhammad AZEEM University of Bahrain, College of Sciences, Department of Biology, Sakheer, 32038 (BH)
  • Tanveer HUSSAIN Azad Jammu and Kashmir, University of Bhimber (AJKUoB), Department of Botany, Bhimber, 10040, AJK (PK)
  • Faisal I. JAFRI University of Gujrat, Department of Botany, Gujrat-51700 (PK)
  • Muhammad Z. AHMAD The University of Lahore, Faculty of Sciences, Lahore-54600 (PK)
  • Samy SAYED Cairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Giza, 12613 (EG) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7002-568X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53414890

Keywords:

abiotic stress, amino acid coated nanoparticles, ascorbate glutathione cycle, seed priming, yield of rice

Abstract

Arsenic contamination significantly affects rice yield and production. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of nanoparticles to mitigate heavy metal stress in cereals, although concerns about their phytotoxicity in agricultural systems have emerged. Coating nanoparticles may enhance their biocompatibility and reduce toxicity. In this study, we synthesized nano zinc oxide (ZnONPs) and methionine-coated nano zinc oxide (Met-ZnONPs), characterizing their properties using UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Met-ZnONPs exhibited a blue shift and quantum confinement when characterized through UV-Vis and TEM. We aimed to compare the effects of seed priming with ZnONPs and Met-ZnONPs, hypothesizing that methionine coatings would enhance efficacy. Rice seeds were primed for 24 hours with either ZnONPs or Met-ZnONPs before sowing under both arsenic stress and non-stress conditions. We monitored intrinsic arsenic levels in soil and irrigation water and assessed arsenic content in rice grains post-harvest. Priming with 25 ppm Met-ZnONPs increased plant height, fresh weight, and activities of key antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase) by 13.73%, 19.36%, 19.57%, 25.19%, 17.17%, and 14.4% respectively, compared to increases of 10.24%, 3.82%, 3.63%, 11.26%, 16.35%, 9.94%, and 7.06% for 50 ppm ZnONPs. Furthermore, 50 ppm Met-ZnONPs resulted in a 47.89% reduction in grain arsenic and a 36% decrease in hydrogen peroxide levels, while ZnONPs alone showed reductions of 22.28% in grain arsenic and 32% in hydrogen peroxide. These findings suggest that coating nanoparticles can enhance crop production by improving their biocompatibility and mitigating phytotoxic effects.

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Published

2025-12-21

How to Cite

MAZHAR, M. W., ISHTIAQ, M., MAQBOOL, M., AL-SHURAYM, L. A., ALKERIDIS, L. A., THIND, S., ALASMARI, A., ARSHAD, A., AKRAM, R., AZEEM, M., HUSSAIN, T., JAFRI, F. I., AHMAD, M. Z., & SAYED, S. (2025). Methionine-coated nano zinc oxide: A novel nanopriming agent to enhance antioxidant defence, and agronomic traits in arsenic-stressed rice. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 53(4), 14890. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53414890

Issue

Vol. 53 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Research Articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nbha53414890

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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad W. MAZHAR, Muhammad ISHTIAQ, Mehwish MAQBOOL, Laila A. AL-SHURAYM, Lamya A. ALKERIDIS, Sumaira THIND, Abdulrahman ALASMARI, Anila ARSHAD, Raheel AKRAM, Muhammad AZEEM, Tanveer HUSSAIN, Faisal I. JAFRI, Muhammad Z. AHMAD, Samy SAYED

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