Iron and Zinc Nanoparticles Boosted Growth, Antioxidants, and Oil in Lemon Balm

Greg Howard
18th May, 2024

Iron and Zinc Nanoparticles Boosted Growth, Antioxidants, and Oil in Lemon Balm

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Islamic Azad University, Damghan, explored the effects of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles on lemon balm growth and biochemical properties
  • Fe nanoparticles at 20-30 mg L-1 and Zn nanoparticles at 120 mg L-1 significantly improved plant growth and biochemical attributes
  • The combination of Fe at 30 mg L-1 and Zn at 120 mg L-1 notably increased shoot and root weight, chlorophyll content, essential oil yield, and various biochemical compounds
Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have been increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance plant growth and development. Recent research conducted by the Islamic Azad University, Damghan, aimed to investigate the effects of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles on the growth and biochemical attributes of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.)[1]. This study is particularly significant as it addresses the gap in knowledge regarding the application of Fe and Zn NPs on medicinal plants. The study explored the effects of varying concentrations of Fe NPs (10, 20, and 30 mg L-1) and Zn NPs (60 and 120 mg L-1) on several growth parameters, including water content, photosynthesis pigments, phenolic content, essential oil (EO) quality, and rosmarinic acid (RA) production. The research found that Fe NPs at 20 and 30 mg L-1 and Zn NPs at 120 mg L-1 significantly improved these biochemical attributes. Specifically, the interaction of Fe NPs at 30 mg L-1 and Zn NPs at 120 mg L-1 resulted in substantial increases in shoot weight (72%), root weight (92%), chlorophyll a (74%), chlorophyll b (47%), RA (66%), proline (81%), glycine betaine (GB, 231%), protein (286%), relative water content (8%), EO yield (217%), total phenolic content (63%), and total flavonoid content (57%). This study builds on previous research that has shown the beneficial effects of various NPs in mitigating abiotic stresses in plants. For instance, silicon (Si) and selenium (Se) NPs have been found to alleviate salt stress in Physalis alkekengi L., improving growth and physiological attributes under saline conditions[2]. Similarly, Fe NPs have been reported to reduce cadmium (Cd) accumulation and oxidative stress in wheat, enhancing photosynthesis and yield under Cd and drought stress[3]. Furthermore, a combined application of Si and Fe NPs has been demonstrated to mitigate Cd stress in Lima bean, improving growth attributes and nutrient uptake[4]. The current study expands on these findings by demonstrating that Fe and Zn NPs can significantly enhance the growth and biochemical properties of lemon balm. The use of Fe NPs at 20-30 mg L-1 and Zn NPs at 120 mg L-1 was found to optimize the growth and secondary metabolites of the plant. This is particularly relevant given the increasing interest in medicinal plants for their therapeutic properties. The methodology involved treating lemon balm plants with different concentrations of Fe and Zn NPs and measuring various growth and biochemical parameters. The results were analyzed using heat map analysis, which revealed that protein, GB, EO yield, shoot weight, root weight, and proline showed the most significant changes upon Fe NP treatment. This suggests that Fe NPs play a crucial role in enhancing the biochemical attributes of lemon balm. In conclusion, the study conducted by the Islamic Azad University, Damghan, provides valuable insights into the potential of Fe and Zn NPs to improve the growth and biochemical properties of lemon balm. This research not only fills a gap in the existing knowledge but also offers practical recommendations for optimizing the cultivation of medicinal plants using metallic nanoparticles. The findings align with previous studies that have highlighted the benefits of NPs in mitigating abiotic stresses and improving plant growth, thus contributing to the broader understanding of nanoparticle applications in agriculture.

AgricultureBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Foliar-applied iron and zinc nanoparticles improved plant growth, phenolic compounds, essential oil yield, and rosmarinic acid production of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.).

Published 17th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33680-5

Related Studies

2) Foliar-applied silicon and selenium nanoparticles modulated salinity stress through modifying yield, biochemical attribute, and fatty acid profile of Physalis alkekengi L.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29450-4

3) Simultaneous mitigation of cadmium and drought stress in wheat by soil application of iron nanoparticles.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124681

4) Silicon assisted ameliorative effects of iron nanoparticles against cadmium stress: Attaining new equilibrium among physiochemical parameters, antioxidative machinery, and osmoregulators of Phaseolus lunatus.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.06.016


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