Characterization of Octa-aminopropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (OA-POSS) nanoparticles and their effect on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) response to salinity stress

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry 2023-03, Vol.196, p.89-102
• Main Authors: Gohari, Gholamreza, Panahirad, Sima, Mohammadi, Asghar, Kulak, Muhittin, Dadpour, Mohamad Reza, Lighvan, Zohreh Mehri, Sharifi, Sina, Eftekhari-Sis, Bagher, Szafert, Sławomir, Fotopoulos, Vasileios, Akbari, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Essential oil; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Ocimum basilicum; Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS); Reactive oxygen species; Salt Stress; Sodium Chloride - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.01.019

Salt stress is of the most detrimental abiotic stress factors on either crop or non-crop species. Of the strategies employed to boost the performance of the plants against harmful impacts of salt stress; application of novel nano-engineered particles have recently gained great attention as a promising tool. Octa-aminopropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes nanoparticles (OA-POSS NPs) were synthesized and then a foliar-application of OA-POSS NPs were carried out on sweet basil plants subjected to the salt stress. In that context, interactive effects of OA-POSS NPs (25, 50 and 100 mg L−1) and salinity stress (50 and 100 mM NaCl) were assayed by estimating a series of agronomic, physiological, biochemical and analytical parameters. OA-POSS NPs decreased the harmful effects of salinity by increasing photosynthetic pigment content, adjusting chlorophyll fluorescence, and triggering non-enzymatic (phenolic content) and enzymatic antioxidant components. The findings suggested that 25 mg L−1 OA-POSS NPs is the optimum concentration for sweet basil grown under salt stress. Considering the essential oil profile, estragole was the predominant compound with a percentage higher than 50% depending on the treatment. In comparison to the control group, 50 mM NaCl did not significantly affect estragole content, whilst 100 mM NaCl caused a substantial increase in estragole content. Regarding OA-POSS NPs treatments, increments by 16.8%, 11.8% and 17.5% were observed following application with 25, 50 and 100 mg L−1, respectively. Taken together, the current study provides evidence that POSS NPs can be employed as novel, ‘green’ growth promoting agents in combating salt stress in sweet basil. [Display omitted] •This is the first report on the potential uses of OA-POSS NPs on plants.•Promising acts of OA-POSS NPs were reported in either well-watered or salt stress conditions.•The remarkable effects were manifested in morphological, physiological and biochemical attributes of the basil plants.•OA-POSS NPs crucially improved essential oil compounds of basil plants by altering the predominant compounds.•OA-POSS might be of the significant candidate molecules in combating salt stress for basil plants.