Nano 2026

Soil salinisation challenges plant production, and nanoparticles have been investigated to alleviate salt stress. In this study, we evaluated the effects of synthetic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on rucola (Eruca sativa Mill.) seedlings grown under NaCl stress. Six-day-old seedlings were grown hydroponically for 18 days in media containing 2 mg/L AuNPs, 50, 100 or 150 mM NaCl, or their combinations. Plant survival, growth, biomass, leaf area, elemental composition, hydrogen peroxide, chlorophyll, anthocyanins, nitrogen balance index (NBI), chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP test) and genomic template stability (GTS) were assessed. Treatment with 150 mM NaCl, with or without AuNPs, resulted in complete plant mortality. At 50 mM NaCl, the addition of AuNPs increased shoot and root length, fresh biomass and Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu contents compared with NaCl alone, although these values mostly remained below the control and survival was significantly reduced. At 100 mM NaCl, AuNPs increased survival compared with NaCl alone, but fresh biomass remained below the control. AuNPs alone resulted in the highest hydrogen peroxide content and lower chlorophyll and NBI values. Anthocyanin content increased under all treatments, whereas flavonoid differences were not significant. Chlorophyll a fluorescence showed changes in OJIP kinetics and photosynthetic electron transport, most pronounced under the combined AuNPs + NaCl treatment. GTS decreased significantly in all experimental groups, with the lowest GTS under 100 mM NaCl + AuNPs. Overall, AuNPs showed limited, stress-dependent effects, providing new insights into their interaction with plant responses to salinity and their potential to modulate plant stress responses.

Aleksandra Mošenoka is a PhD student and laboratory assistant at the Genomics and Biotechnology Laboratory of Daugavpils University, Latvia. Her research focuses on plant biotechnology and the effects of nanoparticles on plant growth, development, and genome stability. She is involved in research investigating the effects of nanoparticles on plant physiology and genotoxicity, as well as the application of nanotechnology in plant science.