Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Induced Growth and Physio-Biochemical Changes in Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) in Saline Soil
Hina Shafiq,
Muhammad Yousaf Shani,
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf,
Francesco De Mastro,
Claudio Cocozza,
Shahid Abbas,
Naila Ali,
Zaib-un-Nisa,
Aqsa Tahir,
Muhammad Iqbal,
Zafran Khan,
Nimra Gul,
Gennaro Brunetti
Affiliations
Hina Shafiq
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Muhammad Yousaf Shani
Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology College (NIAB-C), Islamabad 45650, Pakistan
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Francesco De Mastro
Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Claudio Cocozza
Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Shahid Abbas
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Naila Ali
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Zaib-un-Nisa
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Aqsa Tahir
Department of Agricultural Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 45650, Pakistan
Muhammad Iqbal
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Zafran Khan
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Nimra Gul
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Gennaro Brunetti
Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Research on nanoparticles (NPs) is gaining great attention in modulating abiotic stress tolerance and improving crop productivity. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) on growth and biochemical characteristics in two maize hybrids (YH-5427 and FH-1046) grown under normal conditions or subjected to saline stress. A pot-culture experiment was carried out in the Botanical Research Area of “the University of Lahore”, Lahore, Pakistan, in a completely randomized design. At two phenological stages, both maize hybrids were irrigated with the same amount of distilled water or NaCl solution (EC = 5 dS m−1) and subjected or not to foliar treatment with a suspension of CuO-NPs. The salt stress significantly reduced the photosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance), while the sodium content in the shoot and root increased. The foliar spray with CuO-NPs improved the growth and photosynthetic attributes, along with the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg content in the roots and shoots. However, the maize hybrid YH-5427 responded better than the other hybrid to the saline stress when sprayed with CuO-NPs. Overall, the findings of the current investigation demonstrated that CuO-NPs can help to reduce the adverse effects of salinity stress on maize plants by improving growth and physio-biochemical attributes.
