Improvement of Commercially Valuable Traits of Industrial Crops by Application of Carbon-based Nanomaterials

Kamal Pandey,Micah J Green,Muhammad Anas,Victoria K Hicks,Mariya V Khodakovskaya

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-55903-3

Abstract

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) have great potential as a powerful tool to improve plant productivity. Here, we investigated the biological effects of graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on fiber-producing species (cotton, Gossypium hirsutum) and ornamental species (vinca, Catharanthus roseus). The exposure of seeds to CNTs or graphene led to the activation of early seed germination in Catharanthus and overall higher germination in cotton and Catharanthus seeds. The application of CBNs resulted in higher root and shoot growth of young seedlings of both tested species. Cultivation of Catharanthus plants in soil supplemented with CBNs resulted in the stimulation of plant reproductive system by inducing early flower development along with higher flower production. Catharanthus plants cultivated in CNTs or graphene supplemented soil accelerated total flower production by 37 and 58%, respectively. Additionally, CBNs reduced the toxic effects caused by NaCl. Long-term application of CBNs to crops cultivated under salt stress conditions improved the desired phenotypical traits of Catharanthus (higher flower number and leaf number) and cotton (increased fiber biomass) compared to untreated plants of both species cultivated at the same stress condition. The drought stress experiments revealed that introduction of CBNs to matured Catharanthus plant increased the plant survival with no symptoms of leaf wilting as compared to untreated Catharanthus growing in water deficit conditions.

Highlights

The applications of nanotechnology in agriculture can lead to significant improvements in plant growth and yield and reduce the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and agrochemicals[1]
We observed that the exposure of seeds to pure Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) did not lead to the development of any toxic symptoms and positively affected the seed germination of cotton and Catharanthus (Fig. 2)
The first signs of seed germination were observed at day 2 for seeds exposed to CBNs whereas germination was started at day 3 for Catharanthus seeds exposed to control medium which was not supplemented with CBNs

Summary

Introduction

The applications of nanotechnology in agriculture can lead to significant improvements in plant growth and yield and reduce the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and agrochemicals[1]. One of the most promising discoveries is the ability of a wide range of CBNs to induce early flower development and significantly stimulate the production of flowers and fruits of plants grown in hydroponics or soil supplemented with CBNs16,17 This discovery may lead to the establishment of highly efficient technology with a focus on the improvement of commercially important crops such as flower producing species (ornamental plants) or/ and fiber producing plants (cotton). Irrigation of salty water on important ornamental plants negatively affected plant architecture and eventually led to delays in flower bud production[24] Genetic modifications such as genetic engineering and plant breeding are quite popular tools to improve commercially valuable traits of plants, including overall productivity and abiotic stress tolerance[25,26].

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