Search Results (72)

Nanotechnology holds great promise for alleviating drought stress in crops. This study elucidates and compares the distinct physiological mechanisms by which two nanomaterials, nano-cerium oxide (CeO₂) and nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂), function as seed-priming agents to enhance drought tolerance in barley. A comprehensive analysis encompassing germination performance, hormonal dynamics, starch metabolism, osmotic adjustment, photosynthetic pigments, and the antioxidant system revealed that each nanomaterial operates through a unique pathway. Specifically, priming with 150 mg·L⁻¹ nano-CeO₂ (CP-150) primarily promoted root development and stress resilience. This effect was achieved by persistently reducing abscisic acid (ABA) levels, elevating gibberellin (GA₃), enhancing amylase activity to mobilize seed reserves, and increasing soluble protein accumulation in roots. In contrast, priming with 500 mg·L⁻¹ nano-TiO₂ (TP-500) was more effective in enhancing shoot physiology and adaptive capacity by rapidly inducing auxin (IAA), robustly stimulating the antioxidant enzyme system, and increasing photosynthetic pigment content. The temporally and spatially complementary actions of these nanomaterials, with nano-CeO₂ fostering root-based resilience and nano-TiO₂ boosting shoot-level functions, synergistically support seed germination and seedling establishment under drought conditions. This study provides a mechanistic foundation for designing targeted nano-priming strategies to improve crop drought resistance. Full article

The deterioration of concrete hydraulic structures caused by chemical factors, seepage, and environmental stress necessitates advanced protective coatings that enhance durability, flexibility, and environmental sustainability. Conventional protective systems often exhibit limited durability under combined hydraulic, thermal, and chemical stress. In this study, a novel polyfluorosilicone-based coating system is presented, which integrates a deep-penetrating nano-primer for substrate reinforcement, a crack-bridging polymer intermediate layer for impermeability, and a polyfluorosilicone topcoat providing UV and weather resistance. The multilayer architecture addresses the inherent trade-offs between adhesion, flexibility, and durability observed in conventional waterproofing systems. Informed by a mechanistic study of interfacial adhesion and failure modes, the coating exhibits outstanding high mechanical and performance characteristics, including a mean pull-off bond strength of 4.56 ± 0.14 MPa for the fully cured triple-layer coating system, with cohesive failure occurring within the concrete substrate, signifying a bond stronger than the material it protects. The system withstood 2.2 MPa water pressure and 200 freeze–thaw cycles with 87.2% modulus retention, demonstrating stable mechanical and environmental durability. The coating demonstrated excellent resilience, showing no evidence of degradation after 1000 h of UV aging, 200 freeze–thaw cycles, and exposure to alkaline solutions. This water-based formulation meets green-material standards, with low volatile organic compound (VOC) levels and minimal harmful chemicals. The results validate that a multi-scale, layered design strategy effectively decouples and addresses the distinct failure mechanisms in hydraulic environments, providing a robust and sustainable solution. Full article

Marine invertebrates are a prime source of biologically active peptides due to their role in humoral immunity. These peptides typically exhibit broad-spectrum functions, including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities. In this report, we describe the identification and biological characterization of five novel bioactive peptides from the marine mollusk Pisania pusio. An extract of P. pusio was analyzed using nanoLC-ESI-MS-MS, and five peptides (PP1–5) were selected via bioinformatic screening as potential antimicrobial and anticancer peptides and subsequently validated experimentally. Among these, PP1, PP2, and PP4 were identified as cryptides derived from the proteolytic cleavage of actin, while PP3 and PP5 are novel peptides with no known protein precursors. All peptides exhibited moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) predominantly at 100 µM. In contrast, only PP1 and PP5 were active against cancer cells, with PP1 being the most effective against A375 melanoma cells (IC₅₀ = 17.08 µM). This experimental validation confirmed the utility of the integrated in silico/peptidomic pipeline for lead identification. None of these peptides showed significant hemolytic activity or toxicity on fetal lung fibroblasts over 800 μM, demonstrating promising in vitro selectivity. These results highlight the multifunctional nature of P. pusio-derived peptides and their potential as lead compounds for further optimization and development into therapeutic agents against microbial infections and cancer, subject to more comprehensive safety evaluations in relevant models Full article

Nanopriming is a unique way to change the metabolism and stress tolerance of plants. In this study, the effects of seed priming with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs, 15 nm) on the photosynthetic apparatus, pro-/antioxidant balance, and cold tolerance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were examined for the first time. The study revealed that nanopriming with Au-NPs (20 µg mL⁻¹ for 24 h) causes an increase in cold tolerance both under control conditions and after cold adaptation at 9 °C for 5 d. In additional, nanopriming leads to the formation of tomato plants with altered photosynthetic apparatus and pro-/antioxidant status. At the same time, nanoparticles do not accumulate in the aboveground parts of the plants. Under control conditions, nanopriming enhances photosynthesis rate, the relative expression of rbcS gene, the number of grana in chloroplast, and the content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves. Regardless of the temperature (in control conditions and during cold adaptation), nanopriming increases the size of chloroplast, the relative expression of rbcL gene, the content of malonic dialdehyde and H₂O₂, and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in leaves. Nanopriming decreases the activity of ascorbate peroxidase and sugar content in tomato leaves and leads to a number of structural changes in chloroplasts. This study highlights the potential of the use of Au-NPs as a promising strategy to mitigate cold stress in tomato plants by affecting photosynthesis and the antioxidant system. Full article

Experimental studies published to date on the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on plants have yielded highly contradictory results: reported outcomes range from growth inhibition to stimulation. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that the ontogenetic stage at the time of exposure to AgNPs is a key determinant of both the qualitative profile and quantitative magnitude of plant responses. For this purpose, laboratory seed priming and small-plot field experiments with wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) treated with stabilized dispersions of AgNPs at 1–100 mg∙L⁻¹ were conducted. It was shown that seed priming with low concentrations of AgNPs (1–5 mg∙L⁻¹) did not affect wheat seedling growth, whereas dispersions at ≥25 mg∙L⁻¹ suppressed development. In agreement, antioxidant enzyme activities (POD, CAT, PPO) increased at 1–5 mg·L⁻¹ and decreased at 100 mg·L⁻¹. By contrast, foliar treatments of field-grown wheat increased plant population density, plant height, spike structure metrics, and grain yield. The optimal regimen—three foliar applications at 5 mg·L⁻¹—increased grain yield by 12.1% from 5.89 t·ha⁻¹ to 6.60 t·ha⁻¹. At low doses of AgNPs, activities of peroxidase, catalase, and polyphenol oxidase in seedlings tissues increased, indicating activation of nonspecific defense mechanisms; at higher concentrations, activities of these enzymes decreased, indicating antioxidant system exhaustion and dysfunction. The findings demonstrate dose- and stage-dependent effects and corroborate the central role of the developmental stage of wheat in determining responses to AgNPs, indicating opportunities to optimize stage-aware, low-dose application regimes to enhance productivity while minimizing phytotoxic risk. Full article

Nanopriming with metal nanoparticles (NPs) is a promising strategy for improving seedling quality in horticultural crops. This study evaluated the effects of hydropriming, ZnO, SiO₂, ZnO + SiO₂, a ZnMo nanofertilizer, and two commercial biostimulants (Osmoplant and Codasil) on the early development of Capsicum annuum L. seedlings. Morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits, including biomass, stem architecture, number of leaves, chlorophylls, carotenoids, SPAD index, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity, were measured under controlled conditions. The ZnO and ZnO + SiO₂ treatments promoted stronger root growth, higher pigment content, and higher NR activity. SiO₂ alone and ZnMo showed intermediate improvements, while Osmoplant and Codasil had more limited effects. Multivariate analyses provided complementary information: heat maps revealed correlations between traits, PCA differentiated treatment responses, and radar charts integrated performance profiles. Overall, the results provide promising evidence that seed nanopriming, particularly with ZnO and ZnO + SiO₂, improves seedling vigor and transplant potential in jalapeño peppers. Full article

Proteomic profiling using ultrafast chromatography–mass spectrometry provides valuable insights into plant responses to abiotic factors by linking molecular changes with physiological outcomes. Nanopriming, a novel approach involving the treatment of seeds with nanoparticles, has demonstrated potential for enhancing plant metabolism and productivity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying nanoparticle-induced effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of gold nanoparticle (Au-NP) seed priming on the proteome of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Differentially regulated proteins (DRPs) were identified, revealing a pronounced reorganization of the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA). Both the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle were affected, with significant upregulation of chloroplast-associated protein complexes, including PsbC (CP43), chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins, Photosystem I subunits (PsaA and PsaB), and the γ-subunit of ATP synthase. The large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) exhibited over a threefold increase in expression in Au-NP-treated seedlings. The proteomic changes in the large subunit RuBisCo L were corroborated by transcriptomic data. Importantly, the proteomic changes were supported by physiological and biochemical analyses, ultrastructural modifications in chloroplasts, and increased photosynthetic activity. Our findings suggest that Au-NP nanopriming triggers coordinated molecular responses, enhancing the functional activity of the PSA. Identified DRPs may serve as potential biomarkers for further elucidation of nanopriming mechanisms and for the development of precision strategies to improve crop productivity. Full article

Seed priming, traditionally viewed as a method for enhancing crop resilience to abiotic stress, has evolved into a multifaceted agronomic strategy. This review synthesizes the current findings demonstrating that priming influences plant development, metabolic regulation, and yield enhancement even under optimal conditions. By covering a wide range of crops, including cereals (e.g., wheat, maize, rice, and barley) as well as vegetables and horticultural species (e.g., tomato, carrot, spinach, and lettuce), we highlight the broad applicability of priming across agricultural systems. The underlying mechanisms include hormonal modulation, altered source–sink dynamics, accelerated phenology, and epigenetic memory. Various priming techniques are discussed, including hydropriming, osmopriming, biopriming, chemopriming, and nanopriming, with attention to their physiological and molecular effects. Special focus is given to the role of seed priming in advancing climate-smart and precision agriculture. By shifting the narrative from stress mitigation to holistic crop performance optimization, seed priming emerges as a key tool for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges. Full article

Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized via a green chemistry strategy using wheat extract and subsequently functionalized with a carboxymethyl chitosan–cinnamaldehyde (CMC=CIN) conjugate through covalent imine bonding. The resulting nanohybrid (AgNP–CMC=CIN) was extensively characterized to confirm successful biofunctionalization: UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed characteristic cinnamaldehyde absorption peaks; ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed polymer–terpene bonding; and TEM analysis evidenced uniform nanoparticle morphology. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements indicated an increase in hydrodynamic size upon coating (from 59.46 ± 12.63 nm to 110.17 ± 4.74 nm), while maintaining low polydispersity (PDI: 0.29 to 0.27) and stable surface charge (zeta potential ~ −30 mV), suggesting colloidal stability and homogeneous polymer encapsulation. Antifungal activity was evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against F. oxysporum was significantly reduced to 83 μg/mL with AgNP–CMC=CIN, compared to 708 μg/mL for uncoated AgNPs, and was comparable to the reference fungicide tebuconazole (52 μg/mL). Seed priming with AgNP–CMC=CIN led to improved germination (85%) and markedly reduced fungal colonization, while maintaining a favorable phytotoxicity profile. These findings highlight the potential of polysaccharide-terpene-functionalized biogenic AgNPs as a sustainable alternative to conventional fungicides, supporting their application in precision agriculture and integrated crop protection strategies. Full article

From germination to harvest, cereal crops are constantly exposed to a broad spectrum of abiotic stresses that significantly hinder their growth and productivity, posing a serious threat to global food security. Seed resilience and performance are foundational to sustainable agriculture, making the development of efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly strategies to enhance seed vigor and stress tolerance a critical priority. Seed priming has emerged as a promising pre-sowing technique that involves exposing seeds to specific organic or inorganic compounds under controlled conditions to improve their physiological and biochemical traits. Various priming techniques—including halopriming, chemical priming, osmopriming, hormonal priming, hydropriming, biopriming, and nanopriming—have been successfully applied in cereal crops to alleviate the adverse effects of environmental stressors. These treatments trigger a cascade of metabolic and molecular responses, including the modulation of hormonal signaling, enhancement of antioxidant defense systems, stabilization of cellular structures, and upregulation of stress-responsive genes. Together, these changes contribute to enhanced seed germination, improved growth and performance, and greater adaptability to abiotic stress conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of seed priming strategies in cereal crops, emphasizing their mechanisms of action and their impact on plant performance in challenging environments. Full article

Drought stress is one of the main factors limiting seed germination and seedling establishment in field crops such as jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Nanopriming, a seed improvement technique using nanoparticle suspensions, has emerged as a sustainable approach to improving water use efficiency during the early stages of development. This study evaluated the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO, 100 mg·L⁻¹), silicon dioxide (SiO₂, 10 mg·L⁻¹), and their combination (ZnO + SiO₂), stabilized with chitosan, on the germination yield and drought tolerance of jalapeño seeds under mannitol-induced water stress (0%, 15%, and 30%). Compared to the hydroprimed control (T1), nanoparticle treatments consistently improved seed yield. Priming with ZnO (T2) increased the germination percentage by up to 25%, priming with SiO₂ (T3) improved the germination rate by 34%, and the combined treatment (T4: ZnO + SiO₂) improved the fresh weight of the seedlings by 40%. Proline accumulation increased 7.5 times, antioxidant capacity (DPPH) increased 6.5 times, and total phenol content increased 4.8 times in the combined treatment. Flavonoid levels also showed notable increases, suggesting enhanced antioxidant defense. These results clearly demonstrate the superior efficacy of nanoparticle pretreatment compared to conventional hydraulic pretreatment, especially under drought conditions. Multivariate analysis further highlighted the synergistic role of ZnO and SiO₂ in improving osmolite accumulation, antioxidant activity, and water use efficiency. Nanopriming with ZnO and SiO₂ offers a promising, economical, and scalable strategy to improve germination, early growth, and drought resistance in jalapeño pepper cultivation under semi-arid conditions. Full article

The results of our recent research revealed that biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (bio-AgNPs) applied to several-day-old pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants or used for seed nanopriming protected pea plants against selected fungal pathogens. However, the susceptibility of pea to bio-AgNPs during seed germination remains mostly unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the cells’ viability, ROS generation, total antioxidant capacity, the activity of selected antioxidant enzymes, and changes in the polar metabolite profiles of 4-day-old pea seedlings developed in water (control) and water suspensions of bio-AgNPs (at 50 and 200 mg/L). The bio-AgNPs did not negatively affect pea seeds’ germination, early seedlings’ growth, and root tips cells’ viability (at both tested concentrations). In the root, the bio-AgNPs at a lower concentration (50 mg/L) stimulated ROS generation. Nanoparticles enhanced peroxidase activity in root and the total antioxidant capacity in epicotyl. Increased levels of malate, phosphoric acid, proline, GABA, and alanine were observed in root and epicotyl of pea seedlings developed at 50 mg/L of bio-AgNPs. A higher concentration affected the tricarboxylic acid cycle and nitrogen metabolism. Bio-AgNPs alerted oxidative homeostasis and primary metabolism of pea seedlings but did not exceed a certain threshold limit and thus did not injure pea at an early stage of seedling development. Full article

Drought stress is one of the key environmental factors restricting the germination of alfalfa seeds (Medicago sativa L.). Nanopriming is an innovative seed-priming technology able to meet economic, agronomic, and environmental needs in agriculture. However, the use of conventional nanomaterials is hampered by high costs, environmental risks, and biotoxicity. In this study, we synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄NPs) using seasonal Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts (collected from August to November) obtained via an enzymatic ultrasonic-assisted method. The synthesized Fe₃O₄NPs were characterized using SEM, EDS, DLS, FTIR, UV-Vis, and XRD. To investigate the effects of Fe₃O₄NP priming on alfalfa seed germination under drought stress, germination and pot experiments were conducted with five Fe₃O₄NP priming concentrations (unprimed, 0, 20, 40, and 60 mg/L) and three PEG-6000 concentrations (0%, 10%, and 15%) to simulate normal, moderate, and severe drought conditions. The results showed that leaf extracts collected in November exhibited the highest flavonoid content (12.8 mg/g), successfully yielding bioactive-capped spherical Fe₃O₄NPs with a particle size of 369.5 ± 100.6 nm. Germination experiments revealed that under severe drought stress (15% PEG-6000), the 40 mg/L Fe₃O₄NP treatment most effectively enhanced seed vigor, increasing the germination rate, vigor index, and α-amylase activity by 22.1%, 189.4%, and 35.5% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared to controls. Under moderate drought stress (10% PEG-6000), the 20 mg/L Fe₃O₄NP treatment optimally improved germination traits, increasing the germination rate by 25.5% and seedling elongation by 115.6%. The pot experiments demonstrated morphological adaptations in alfalfa seedlings: under moderate drought stress, the 40 mg/L Fe₃O₄NPs significantly increased lateral root numbers, while under severe drought stress, the 60 mg/L Fe₃O₄NPs increased the root surface area by 20.5% and preserved the roots’ structural integrity compared to controls. These findings highlight that Fe₃O₄NPs synthesized via Ginkgo leaf extracts and enzymatic ultrasonic methods exhibit promising agricultural potential. The optimal Fe₃O₄NP priming concentrations enhanced seed vigor, germination traits, and drought resistance by modulating root morphology, with concentration-specific efficacy under varying drought intensities. Full article

The study of nutritional compounds with the potential to train the innate immune response has implications for human health. The objective of the current study was to discover by what means 6 weeks of oral baker’s yeast beta glucan (BYBG) supplementation altered the mRNA expression of genes that reflect innate immune training in the absence of a physical stressor. Nineteen adults were randomly assigned to either a Wellmune^® BYBG or Placebo for 6 weeks. BYBG uniquely altered the expression of 40 mRNAs associated with Dectin-1 and trained innate immunity, the innate immune response, the pathogen-associated (PAMP) and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP), and the inflammatory response. The observed changes were classified as immune training rather than immune priming due to the progressive increase in the expression of myeloid immune-associated mRNA. Combined with the findings of previous research, the findings of the present study support the claim that oral BYBG supplementation may be associated with trained innate immunity during resting homeostasis. Further, the key findings associated with BYBG may reflect improved responsiveness to future infection (exogenous) and/or sterile-inflammatory (endogenous) challenge. Full article

Current crop management worldwide is shifting toward the use of environmentally friendly products. With this objective, we developed a new phytosanitary product with biostimulant properties based on the encapsulation of garlic extract at a lower dose (<0.1%) in chitosan nanoparticles as a seed nano-priming agent. In the present study, the morphology of the nanoparticles, their stability under prolonged storage conditions, and their efficacy as a biostimulant are evaluated on cereals in rainfed crops, and the activities were correlated with a transcriptomic analysis. The nanoparticles showed a spherical shape and had a maximum size close to 200 nm with satisfactory stability at 4 °C, reducing the probability of aggregation processes in the nanoparticles. The biostimulant properties of the nano-priming agent were evaluated in a field experiment with wheat, barley, and oat seeds at 30 and 90 days, showing that plants treated with nanoparticles showed significant differences with higher values in root development, leaf length, and total plant weight. Finally, through a RNA-SEQ analysis of the treated wheat seeds, we have confirmed that the nano-treatment showed a higher increases in regard to development, metabolism, and plant response genes compared with untreated seeds. Full article