Physiological and anti-oxidative response of biologically and chemically synthesized iron oxide: Zea mays a case study
Murtaza Hasan, Saira Rafique, Ayesha Zafar, Suraj Loomba, Rida Khan, Shahbaz Gul Hassan, Muhammad Waqas Khan, Sadaf Zahra, Muhammad Zia, Ghazala Mustafa, Xugang Shu, Zahid Ihsan, Nasir Mahmood
Abstract
salt and chemically synthesized iron oxides NRs caused growth retardation and impaired plant physiological and anti-oxidative activities at a concentration higher than 25 mg/L due to toxicity by over accumulation. While iron released form biologically synthesized NRs have shown significantly positive results even at 50 mg/L due to their low toxicity, an improved leaf area (13%), number of leaves per plant (26%), total chlorophyll content (80%) and nitrate content (6%) with biologically synthesized NRs are obtained. Moreover, the plant anti-oxidative activity also increased on treatment with biologically synthesized NRs because of their ability to form a complex with metal ions. These findings suggest that biologically synthesized iron oxides NRs are an efficient iron source and can last for a long time. Thus, proving that nanofertilizer are required to have specific surface chemistry to release the nutrient in an appropriate concentration for better plant growth.