Nano-ZnO alleviates drought stress via modulating the plant water use and carbohydrate metabolism in maize

Abstract

ABSTRACT The wide application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles inevitably facilities their release into the terrestrial and agricultural ecosystems, severely affecting crop production. The effects of nano-ZnO (100 mg L−1) on stomatal morphology, gas exchange and key carbon metabolism enzyme activities were investigated in drought-stressed and well-watered maize. Drought stress limited the plant growth, caused stomatal closure, decreased the net photosynthetic rate, while increased the osmolyte concentrations. In drought-stressed maize, the application of nano-ZnO (100 mg L−1) alleviated photosynthetic pigment degradation and benefited the stomatal movement, maintained a higher net photosynthetic rate, and enhanced water use efficiency, promoting the drought tolerance in maize. In addition, the nano-ZnO increased the activities of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, phosphoglucoisomerase and cytoplasmic invertase by 17.8%, 391.5% and 126%, respectively, which enhanced the starch and sucrose biosynthesis and glycolysis metabolism in leaves under drought stress. Manipulation of primary carbohydrate metabolism through nano-ZnO induced regulation of the key enzymes activity benefited the drought tolerance in maize. The nano-ZnO application (100 mg L−1) alleviates the negative effect of drought stress via improving photosynthetic carbon assimilation of maize.