Study of the impact of metallic nanoparticles produced with organic waste, methyl aminolevulinate and gamma-aminobutyric acid in green nanopriming

• Grant number: 22/14030-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Lilia Coronato Courrol
• Grantee: Lilia Coronato Courrol
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Marcia Regina Franzolin

Abstract

The sustainable growth of agriculture depends on innovative techniques such as those based on nanotechnology. This project aims to evaluate the potential impact of green silver, copper, and silver-copper nanoparticles (NPs) on the nanopriming of wheat and sunflower seeds. Nanopriming consists of conditioning seeds in a solution containing NPs for a certain period. This technique helps germination and seed growth by modulating biochemical pathways and balancing reactive oxygen species and plant growth hormones, resulting in increased resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. In this sense, nanopriming reduces pesticides and fertilizers, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. Green nanopriming uses nanoparticles synthesized by green chemistry with elements that are non-toxic to the environment. In this project, NPs will be produced with organic waste extracts (banana and pineapple peels) and with plant growth regulators, a derivative of aminolevulinic acid (ALA), methyl aminolevulinate (MALA), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The nanoparticles will be characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, polydispersity index, electron microscopy imaging, and antimicrobial properties. Seeds will be conditioned in NP solutions, and their germination and growth will be monitored over time. The effect of nanopriming under different 1) priming conditions: temperature, lighting, duration, and 2) NPs parameters: nature, shape, size, and concentration of NPs will be evaluated from the germination percentage, vigor index, and chlorophyll concentration of the seedlings. In addition, the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) will be determined. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) will be evaluated in the nanopriming process. We will thoroughly investigate the optical properties of chlorophyll to identify possible changes in the fluorescence spectrum or decay time due to the presence of silver and copper ions or nanoparticles in seedlings. With this project, we want to understand better the mechanisms involved in NPs synthesis and determine the best NPs to be used in green nanopriming to contribute to more sustainable agriculture. (AU)