Stress-protective Effect of Silica Nanosol-based Foliar Fertilizers in Winter Wheat Cultivation
M. D. Aksylenko *
V P Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, 1 Academician Kukhar Str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
Y. V. Sheludko
V P Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, 1 Academician Kukhar Str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
T. V. Tkachenko
V P Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, 1 Academician Kukhar Str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
N. Yu Khimach
V P Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, 1 Academician Kukhar Str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
O. O. Haidai
V P Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, 1 Academician Kukhar Str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
V. O. Yevdokymenko
V P Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, 1 Academician Kukhar Str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Moisture deficiency adversely affects plant growth and physiological processes and can reduce crop productivity. Silicon-containing foliar treatments have been investigated as a means of improving plant water relations, photosynthetic activity, and tolerance to abiotic stress. However, the stress-protective effects of the specific silica nanosol-based foliar compositions evaluated in this study on winter wheat under moisture-deficit conditions required further assessment. This study evaluated the stress-protective effect of silica nanosol-based foliar compositions on winter wheat under simulated soil moisture deficiency. The work included the preparation and characterisation of silica nanosols obtained by high-speed dispersion with ultrasound treatment and by hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane. The resulting nanosols were used to prepare foliar compositions containing humic or lignohumic components, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, a copper-ammonia complex, or potassium silicate concentrate. Their effects were assessed in a vegetation experiment with 58-day-old winter wheat plants of the Cubus variety. Foliar treatment with silicon-containing compositions at 0.006% improved several physiological and biometric indicators compared with the water-treated control. The above-ground mass of 100 plants increased from 10.64 g in the control to 12.15 g after treatment with the silica nanosol composition containing potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Treated plants also showed lower water loss from leaves during the first hours after excision, indicating improved water-holding capacity. Silicon-containing treatments increased the content of photosynthetic pigments, especially chlorophyll b and total carotenoids. The highest carotenoid values were recorded after treatment with compositions containing potassium dihydrogen phosphate or the copper-ammonia complex. These treatments also reduced malondialdehyde accumulation in leaves, suggesting lower lipid peroxidation. The findings indicate that selected silica nanosol-based foliar compositions may support leaf water status and oxidative balance in winter wheat under the tested moisture-deficit conditions.
Keywords: Silica nanosol, foliar fertilisation, winter wheat, moisture deficit, silicon, water-holding capacity, oxidative stress