Presenter Information

Justin Deakin, Utah State University

Class

Article

College

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department

Plants, Soils, and Climate Department

Faculty Mentor

Astrid Jacobson

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

Drought commonly reduces crop yields in agricultural production systems located in semi-arid regions around the world. Commonly, wheat (Triticum aestivum) is grown in these regions. The goal of this study was to determine if zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) applied as a soil amendment reduces drought stress in wheat seedlings grown in the presence of Pseudomonas chloraphis isolate O6 (PcO6), a beneficial root colonizer. To show a nanoparticle-specific benefit, ZnO NP treatments were compared with bulk zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and ZnO, the most commonly applied Zn amendments. Wheat was grown in a controlled environment, using sand amended with 5 mg/kg Zn as bulk ZnSO4, 5 mg/kg Zn as bulk ZnO, 5 mg /kg Zn as ZnO NPs, or 0.5 mg/kg Zn as ZnO NPs . Seeds for all treatments were inoculated with PcO6 before planting. The plants were grown under white LED lights. Modified, half-strength Hoagland solution was added on planting day and days 7 and 14 of growth, to supply the plants with essential nutrients. The plants were grown for 14 days at a soil water content of 0.144 g/g. Then, half the plants were drought-stressed for 12 days at a soil-water content of 0.024 g/g, while the other half were watered normally. Water stress on plants was evaluated based on mass water contents of leaf tissue samples and chlorophyll florescence during the drought period. Results of water-stressed plants were compared with those of the well-watered plants within each treatment to evaluate the symptoms of drought stress. The plants grown in sand amended with different fertilizers were compared to evaluate which treatments were most successful at reducing drought stress symptoms, and whether nano-sized ZnO provided benefit over bulk treatments. Data for mass water content was compared to data for chlorophyll florescence using a Pearson correlation.

Location

Room 155

Start Date

4-10-2019 12:00 PM

End Date

4-10-2019 1:15 PM

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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Apr 10th, 12:00 PM Apr 10th, 1:15 PM

Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Drought Tolerance in Winter Wheat

Room 155

Drought commonly reduces crop yields in agricultural production systems located in semi-arid regions around the world. Commonly, wheat (Triticum aestivum) is grown in these regions. The goal of this study was to determine if zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) applied as a soil amendment reduces drought stress in wheat seedlings grown in the presence of Pseudomonas chloraphis isolate O6 (PcO6), a beneficial root colonizer. To show a nanoparticle-specific benefit, ZnO NP treatments were compared with bulk zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and ZnO, the most commonly applied Zn amendments. Wheat was grown in a controlled environment, using sand amended with 5 mg/kg Zn as bulk ZnSO4, 5 mg/kg Zn as bulk ZnO, 5 mg /kg Zn as ZnO NPs, or 0.5 mg/kg Zn as ZnO NPs . Seeds for all treatments were inoculated with PcO6 before planting. The plants were grown under white LED lights. Modified, half-strength Hoagland solution was added on planting day and days 7 and 14 of growth, to supply the plants with essential nutrients. The plants were grown for 14 days at a soil water content of 0.144 g/g. Then, half the plants were drought-stressed for 12 days at a soil-water content of 0.024 g/g, while the other half were watered normally. Water stress on plants was evaluated based on mass water contents of leaf tissue samples and chlorophyll florescence during the drought period. Results of water-stressed plants were compared with those of the well-watered plants within each treatment to evaluate the symptoms of drought stress. The plants grown in sand amended with different fertilizers were compared to evaluate which treatments were most successful at reducing drought stress symptoms, and whether nano-sized ZnO provided benefit over bulk treatments. Data for mass water content was compared to data for chlorophyll florescence using a Pearson correlation.