Boosting Orange Tree Health with Chitosan-Selenium Under Salt Stress

Jenn Hoskins
6th August, 2024

Boosting Orange Tree Health with Chitosan-Selenium Under Salt Stress

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by the University of Jiroft found that salt stress significantly reduces the photosynthetic performance of Valencia orange plants
  • Foliar application of chitosan, selenium nanoparticles, and their composite notably mitigates the adverse effects of salt stress on photosynthesis
  • The combination of chitosan and selenium nanoparticles was the most effective treatment, significantly improving photosynthetic parameters under salt stress conditions
Abiotic stress, particularly salinity, poses a significant challenge to the photosynthetic efficiency and overall growth of plants. Addressing this issue, a recent study conducted by the University of Jiroft[1] explored the potential of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs), chitosan (CS), and their composite (CS + Se NPs) in enhancing the photosynthetic apparatus of C. sinensis (Valencia orange) under salt stress conditions. The research involved grafted seedlings of C. sinensis cv. Valencia, which were acclimatized to greenhouse conditions before being subjected to varying concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mM). After two weeks of salt stress, the plants were foliar sprayed with distilled water (control), CS (0.1% w/v), Se NPs (20 mg Lāˆ’1), and a combination of CS and Se NPs (10 and 20 mg Lāˆ’1). Three months post-treatment, the researchers assessed the levels of photosynthetic pigments, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence in the treated plants. The study found that salt stress significantly impaired the photosynthetic performance of C. sinensis, as evidenced by reduced levels of photosynthetic pigments and decreased leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. However, the application of CS, Se NPs, and their composite notably mitigated these adverse effects. Among the treatments, the composite of CS and Se NPs was the most effective in improving the photosynthetic parameters under salt stress. These findings align with previous research indicating the beneficial effects of chitosan on plant growth under stress conditions. For instance, a study on maize seedlings demonstrated that chitosan alleviated salt-induced growth retardation and oxidative stress by enhancing mitochondrial respiration and upregulating antioxidant enzyme activities[2]. Similarly, the current study shows that CS plays a crucial role in improving the photosynthetic efficiency of C. sinensis under saline conditions. The use of Se NPs in this study is also supported by earlier findings on the positive impact of nanoparticles on plant stress tolerance. Selenium, an essential micronutrient, is known to enhance antioxidant defense mechanisms in plants, thereby reducing oxidative damage caused by stress. The combination of Se NPs with chitosan appears to synergistically boost the plant's resilience to salinity, as observed in the improved photosynthetic performance of the treated C. sinensis plants. Moreover, the study contributes to the broader understanding of how various treatments can alleviate the negative effects of salt stress on plants. For example, previous research on Robinia pseudoacacia highlighted that salt stress leads to decreased photosynthesis and damaged chloroplast structures, with higher NaCl concentrations causing more severe damage[3]. The findings from the current study suggest that the application of CS and Se NPs can protect the photosynthetic apparatus from such damage, thereby maintaining higher photosynthetic efficiency even under stress conditions. In conclusion, the study conducted by the University of Jiroft provides compelling evidence that foliar application of chitosan, selenium nanoparticles, and their composite can significantly improve the photosynthetic performance of C. sinensis under salt stress. This research not only reinforces the potential of these treatments in enhancing plant stress tolerance but also offers practical insights for developing effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on crop productivity.

AgricultureBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Improving the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of Citrus sinensis with the use of chitosan-selenium nanocomposite (CS + Se NPs) under salinity stress

Published 5th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05462-1

Related Studies

2) Chitosan-induced enhanced expression and activation of alternative oxidase confer tolerance to salt stress in maize seedlings.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.06.025

3) Salt Stress Inhibits Photosynthesis and Destroys Chloroplast Structure by Downregulating Chloroplast Development-Related Genes in Robinia pseudoacacia Seedlings.

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061283


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