Chitosan-encapsulated nitric oxide donors enhance physiological recovery of sugarcane plants after water deficit

Abstract

The combination of nitric oxide (NO) donors with nanomaterials for agricultural purposes is a promising approach. The encapsulation of NO donors emerged as a strategy for protecting these molecules from rapid degradation, besides allowing more controlled release. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that encapsulated NO donors attenuate oxidative stress and then enhance physiological recovery of sugarcane plants after water deficit. Well-hydrated sugarcane plants (control) were compared to plants subjected to water deficit and previously sprayed with water (WD) or encapsulated NO donors (100 μM): S-nitroso-mercaptosuccinic acid (SN-MSA); S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO); S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC); or sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Our data indicated that SNAC spraying partially attenuated the negative impact of WD on the photosynthetic rate, maintained water use efficiency similar to control plants, and promoted growth under stressful conditions. In addition, spraying of encapsulated SNAC and GSNO improved sugarcane photosynthesis during the recovery period. Contrarily, SNP spraying was not effective in mitigating water deficit effects on sugarcane plants, which presented oxidative damage after rehydration. Overall, leaf spraying with SNAC or GSNO is an alternative to improve the physiological performance of sugarcane plants after water deficit, which would favor plant growth and crop yield due to a rapid recovery of photosynthesis.