Nanoparticles of alumina will increase corn yield.

Scientists from the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology DI Ivanovo SFedU found that aluminum-based nanomaterials can influence maize growth and grain quality, which is especially important for agriculture, agro-biosecurity and crop protection of the country.

Corn is one of the most widely consumed and produced grains in the world. According to experts, production in the Russian Federation in 2020 amounted to 13,872 thousand tons, and to this day it is growing rapidly from year to year. Increasing maize yield and grain quality is always a difficult task for farmers, who help solve scientific developments of scientists.

Today, the use of nanotechnologies is becoming a new trend in soil management and agroclimatology. It fundamentally changed the field of modern science working with materials at the atomic scale. For example, the new structures are widely used in agriculture, especially for crop production.

“The introduction of metal-based nanomaterials is playing an important role as an effective stimulator of maize production. However, the increased use of nanomaterials also raises concerns for human health, especially the accumulation of these particles in the edible parts of crops.”, – said the lead researcher of the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology. DI. Ivanovsky SFU Vishnu D. Rajput.

Scientists from the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology DI Ivanovo SFedU actively use nanotechnologies in their research and are working on the strategic project “Soil Management and Agroclimatology” in the framework of the federal program “Priority 2030”.

In their latest study, AB&B SFedU specialists, together with colleagues from India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, led by Professor Jintae Lee (South Korea) and Professor Tatyana Minkina (Russia), studied the phytotoxic effect of various forms of aluminum on maize plants grown on three media: , hydroponics and soil. In their work, scientists used three types of aluminum (nano-Al₂O₃ (22 nm), Al₂O₃ (167 nm) and Al³⁺) to study its effect on seed germination, physiological and biochemical parameters, and accumulation in plant tissues.

The buildup of aluminum in grains can pose a threat to human health. The toxic effects of aluminum can depend on the environment. For example, hydroponic corn is more affected than ground-grown corn. Experts also noted that nano-alumina and metal ions are rapidly absorbed by corn and accumulate in the roots and shoots, evidenced by an increase in the production of antioxidant enzymes and proline. In addition, according to the research results, Al₂O₃ least toxic.

“To date, this comparative study of three types of aluminum and culture media is being conducted for the first time in maize, which is useful for a better understanding of aluminum interactions and will be relevant for further measures to protect the maize crop. The use of nanomaterials cannot be excluded or ignored in agricultural production to meet the necessary food demand in a fast-growing population, so a series of experiments is needed to study the safe application of nanomaterials and the long-term behavior of these small particles in soils and soil biota.”– said Professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Department of Soil Science and Land Resource Assessment of the ABiB SFedU Tatyana Minkina.

The results of an experiment developed by an international team with the support of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (grant no. 2021R1G1A1094698, 2021R1A2C1008368) and the Strategic Academic Leadership Program “Priority 2030” (national project “Science and Universities”) , published in edition “Chemosphere”.

The specialists are not resting on their laurels and plan to investigate more factors about the toxicity and safe use of nanomaterials in agriculture in the near future.

Southern Federal University was one of the winners of the basic portion and research trajectory of the federal program Priority 2030. In its development program, SFedU formulates five key strategic projects to address the long-term global challenges facing humanity, the country and the world . Among them is the direction “Soil management and agroclimatology”.

Source: SFU.