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Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake
Open accessAbstract
Lead (Pb) is toxic to the development and growth of rice plants. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered one of the efficient remediation techniques to mitigate Pb stress in plants. Therefore, a study was carried out to examine the underlying mechanism of iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) nanoparticle-induced Pb toxicity alleviation in rice seedlings. Si–NPs (2.5 mM) and Fe-NPs (25 mg L −1 ) were applied alone and in combination to rice plants grown without (control; no Pb stress) and with (100 µM) Pb concentration. Our results revealed that Pb toxicity severely affected all rice growth-related traits, such as inhibited root fresh weight (42%), shoot length (24%), and chlorophyll b contents (26%). Moreover, a substantial amount of Pb was translocated to the above-ground parts of plants, which caused a disturbance in the antioxidative enzyme activities. However, the synergetic use of Fe- and Si–NPs reduced the Pb contents in the upper part of plants by 27%. It reduced the lethal impact of Pb on roots and shoots growth parameters by increasing shoot length (40%), shoot fresh weight (48%), and roots fresh weight (31%). Both Si and Fe–NPs synergistic application significantly elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) concentrations by 114%, 186%, 135%, and 151%, respectively, compared to plants subjected to Pb stress alone. The toxicity of Pb resulted in several cellular abnormalities and altered the expression levels of metal transporters and antioxidant genes. We conclude that the synergistic application of Si and Fe-NPs can be deemed favorable, environmentally promising, and cost-effective for reducing Pb deadliness in rice crops and reclaiming Pb-polluted soils.
Overview
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TL;DR
Synergistic application of silicon and iron nanoparticles mitigated lead stress in hydroponically grown rice seedlings by improving growth, antioxidant defense, and root cell integrity while reducing Pb uptake and translocation. The combined treatment was more effective than either nanoparticle alone.
Key findings
- Pb stress (100 µM) reduced rice growth traits, including root fresh weight by 42%, shoot length by 24%, and chlorophyll b by 26% (abstract); the results section reports shoot length decreased by 23.49% and root fresh weight by 18.21%.
- Combined Si- and Fe-NPs reduced Pb in the upper plant parts by 27% (abstract); results report decreases of 56.43% in roots and 26.86% in shoots compared with Pb alone.
- Combined Si- and Fe-NPs increased shoot length by 40%, shoot fresh weight by 48%, and root fresh weight by 31% (abstract); results report 39.78%, 48.23%, and 31.26%, respectively, versus Pb alone.
- Combined Si- and Fe-NPs elevated SOD, POD, CAT, and GSH by 114%, 186%, 135%, and 151% compared with Pb-stressed plants alone (abstract); results report 114.32%, 185.51%, 134.75%, and 150.49%.
Methods
- Hydroponic experiment with rice inbred line DW-4; 24-day-old seedlings treated with Pb(NO3)2 at 100 µM, Si-NPs at 2.5 mM, and Fe-NPs at 25 mg L⁻¹ alone and in combination, in a completely randomized design.
- Measurements included growth/biomass, chlorophyll and carotenoids, Pb and Fe/Si concentrations by ICP-MS, antioxidant/oxidant activities (SOD, POD, CAT, GSH, MDA, H2O2), root ultrastructure by TEM and semi-thin sections, and qRT-PCR for antioxidant and metal transporter genes.
- Data analyzed with one-way ANOVA, Tukey/LSD at p < 0.05, PCA, and Cohen’s effect sizes; text reports four pots per treatment combination and also three independent replications for statistical analysis.
Limitations
- Stated by the paper: the study focused on short-term effects; long-term efficacy and ecological impacts of NP application need further investigation.
- Stated by the paper: findings come from controlled laboratory conditions, and translation to real-world field scenarios, soil microbes, soil health, and ecosystem stability remains uncertain.
- Evident from the text: the experiment used a single rice genotype, a single Pb dose, and hydroponic culture, so soil-based Pb bioavailability, genotype variation, and field-relevant microbial interactions were not tested.
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A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The results indicated that Pb exposure decreased carotenoids and chlorophyll a, b contents by 19.19%, 20.50%, and 25.73% in comparison to the control treatment, respectively (Fig. S2).”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
hedgedstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
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In the paper
“and RFW, SFW, SDW, and RDW by 18.21%, 30.58%, 30.92%, and 42.10%, respectively.”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
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In the paper
“However, the combined application of Fe- and Si-NPs to the Pb-stressed rice plants increased SL, SFW, RFW, SDW, and RDW by 39.78%, 48.23%, 31.26%, 42.33%, and 82.95% as compared to Pb alone, respectively.”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
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A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“and RFW, SFW, SDW, and RDW by 18.21%, 30.58%, 30.92%, and 42.10%, respectively.”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“and RFW, SFW, SDW, and RDW by 18.21%, 30.58%, 30.92%, and 42.10%, respectively.”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
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Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
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Rated major: it would touch a result — a value a result rests on, reported and recomputed p-values on opposite sides of the significance level, two passages that conflict with no sign which is right, or a cited work retracted before this paper was published.
In the paper
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Materials and methods > Statistical analyses
“The data, from three independent replications, underwent one-way ANOVA analysis”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Materials and methods > Statistical analyses
“Mean values and standard deviations (± SD) from four replications were used for representation.”
Rated minor: it would not touch a result — a value no result rests on, a p-value that stays on the same side of the significance level, or a conflict that is clerical, resolved elsewhere in the paper, or outside its own findings.
In the paper
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Abstract
“inhibited root fresh weight (42%)”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
“RFW, SFW, SDW, and RDW by 18.21%, 30.58%, 30.92%, and 42.10%, respectively.”
Rated minor: it would not touch a result — a value no result rests on, a p-value that stays on the same side of the significance level, or a conflict that is clerical, resolved elsewhere in the paper, or outside its own findings.
In the paper
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Materials and methods > Plant materials and growth husbandry
“providing Fe2O3 NPs (99.9%, 20e30 nm)”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Materials and methods > Plant materials and growth husbandry
“Our samples' FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) spectra revealed that the FeO was highly pure (Fig. S1B).”
Rated minor: it would not touch a result — a value no result rests on, a p-value that stays on the same side of the significance level, or a conflict that is clerical, resolved elsewhere in the paper, or outside its own findings.
In the paper
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Correlation, heatmap, homogeneity, and principal component analysis
“The larger the absolute value of Cohen's d, the larger the effect size (Table 2).”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Correlation, heatmap, homogeneity, and principal component analysis
“| | Effect size (r) Fe | Effect size (r) Si | Effect size (r) Pb | Effect size (r) Fe × Si | Effect size (r) Fe × Pb | Effect size (r) Si × Pb | Effect size (r) Fe × Si × Pb |”
Rated minor: it would not touch a result — a value no result rests on, a p-value that stays on the same side of the significance level, or a conflict that is clerical, resolved elsewhere in the paper, or outside its own findings.
In the paper
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Correlation, heatmap, homogeneity, and principal component analysis
“However, these indicators increased slightly with Fe and Pb than Si and Pb.”
§ Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake > Results > Plants biomass and Chlorophyll
“the exclusive utilization of Si and Fe-NPs resulted in significant enhancements in the levels of chlorophyll a (27.03% and 24.67%), chlorophyll b (54.57% and 49.49%), and carotenoid (34.29% and 33.46%) under Pb-induced stress, respectively.”
Citations
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Cited by
Gupta, M., Dwivedi, V., Kumar, S., Patel, A., Niazi, P., & Yadav, V. K. (2024) · Plant Signaling & Behavior · doi:10.1080/15592324.2024.2365576 · Cited by 128
Rice and heavy metals: A review of cadmium impact and potential remediation techniques
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Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Ghouri, F., Sarwar, S., Sun, L., Riaz, M., Haider, F. U., Ashraf, H., Lai, M., Imran, M., Liu, J., Ali, S., Liu, X., & Shahid, M. Q.
- Affiliations
- South China Agricultural University (CN)
- Government College University, Faisalabad (PK)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- China Medical University (TW)
- Corresponding author
- Ali, Shafaqat
- Liu, Xiangdong
- Shahid, Muhammad Qasim
- ORCID
- Venue
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2024-03-12
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5986-5986
- ISSN
- 2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10933412
- OpenAlex
- W4392680492
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 24
- FWCI
- 28.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (tdm)
- creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (vor)
- Locations
- Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Greater South Information System
- Funders
- Guangdong Base Bank for Lingnan Rice Germplasm Resources Project (2023)
- Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Project (NT2021001)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (32350610253)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Silicon Effects in Agriculture
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
- Keywords
- lead toxicity, rice, silicon nanoparticles, iron nanoparticles, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, lead uptake, metal transporters, antioxidant gene expression, plant growth inhibition
- MeSH terms
- Antioxidants, Glutathione, Iron, Lead, Oryza, Silicon, Soil Pollutants, Superoxide Dismutase, Oxidative Stress, Nanoparticles
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- Ghouri, F., Sarwar, S., Sun, L., Riaz, M., Haider, F. U., Ashraf, H., Lai, M., Imran, M., Liu, J., Ali, S., Liu, X., & Shahid, M. Q. (2024). Silicon and iron nanoparticles protect rice against lead (Pb) stress by improving oxidative tolerance and minimizing Pb uptake. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55810-2
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