Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Effects of Rare Earth Elements on Growth and Chlorophyll of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Seedling

CeO2NP priming enhances the seed vigor of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) under salt stress

Soil salinization is a common environmental problem that seriously threatens crop yield and food security, especially through its impact on seed germination. Nanoparticle priming, an emerging seed treatment method, is receiving increasing attention in improving crop yield and stress resistance. This study used alfalfa seeds as materials to explore the potential benefits of cerium oxide nanoparticle (CeO2NP) priming to promote seed germination and improve salt tolerance. CeO2NPs at concentrations up to 500 mg/L were able to significantly alleviate salt stress in alfalfa seeds (200 mM), with 50 mg/L of CeO2NP having the best effect, significantly (P< 0.05) increasing germination potential (from 4.0% to 51.3%), germination rate (from 10.0% to 62.7%), root length (from 8.3 cm to 23.1 cm), and seedling length (from 9.8 cm to 13.7 cm). Priming treatment significantly (P< 0.05) increased seed water absorption by removing seed hardness and also reducing abscisic acid and jasmonic acid contents to relieve seed dormancy. CeO2NP priming increased α-amylase activity and osmoregulatory substance level, decreased reactive oxygen species and malonaldehyde contents and relative conductivity, and increased catalase enzyme activity. Seed priming regulated carotenoid, zeatin, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways, among other metabolic pathways, while CeO2NP priming additionally promoted the enrichment of α-linolenic acid and diterpenoid hormone metabolic pathways under salt stress. In addition, CeO2NPs enhanced α-amylase activity (by 6.55%) in vitro. The optimal tested concentration (50 mg/L) of CeO2NPs was able to improve the seed vigor, enhance the activity of α-amylase, regulate the osmotic level and endogenous hormone levels, and improve the salt tolerance of alfalfa seeds. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a simple seed treatment strategy that can improve crop stress resistance, which is of great importance for reducing agricultural costs and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Hormesis and Low Toxic Effects of Three Lanthanides in Microfungi Isolated from Rare Earth Mining Waste in Northwestern Russia

The low-dose toxicity of chloride and nitrate salts of three lanthanides (La, Ce and Nd) was tested on six microfungal species. Five of them (Geomyces vinaceus, Aspergillus niveoglaucus, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Penicillium simplicissimum and Umbelopsis isabellina) were isolated from the loparite ore tailings on the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia. Sydowia polyspora was a control strain. In the case of nitrate salts, the toxicity of REEs to four of six microorganisms was significantly (p < 0.5) lower compared to chloride salts. In this case, nitrates can play the role of exogenous nutrients, compensating for the toxic effect of REEs. Interestingly, U. isabellina only showed an opposite response, indicating the highest toxicity of nitrate (IC5 = 9-20 mg/L) REEs' salts compared to chlorides (IC5 = 80-195 mg/L) at low concentration levels. In addition, treatment with lanthanides showed a "hormesis effect" on fungal growth with stimulation at low doses and inhibition at high doses. However, U. isabellina and S. polyspora demonstrated the absence of hormetic response under the treatment of REEs' nitrate salt. Taking into account the specific hormetic responses and high tolerance of P. simplicissimum and U. isabellina to lanthanides, our findings may be useful in the assessment of the potential application of the selected fungi to bioremediation and REE bioleaching.

Toxic effects of lanthanum(III) on photosynthetic performance of rice seedlings: Combined chlorophyll fluorescence, chloroplast structure and thylakoid membrane protein assessment

Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging as an anticipated pollution in the environment due to their active use in many areas. However, the effects of REEs on the photosynthesis of rice have not been thoroughly explored. Therefore, this study emphasizes how high levels of La(III) affect the thylakoid membrane of rice seedlings, thereby inhibiting photosynthesis and growth. Here, we reported that rice plants treated with La(III) exhibited an increase in La accumulation in the leaves, accompanied by a decrease in chlorophyll content and photosynthetic capacity. La(III) exposure decreased Mg content in leaves, but possibly increased other nutrients including Cu, Mn, and Zn through systemic endocytosis. K-band and L-band appeared in the fluorescence OJIP transients, indicating La(III) stress destroyed the donor and receptor sides of photosystem II (PSII). Numerous reaction centers (RC/CSm) were inactivated by La(III) treatment, which resulted in a reduction in electron transport capacity (decreased ETo/RC and ETo/CSm) and an increase in the dissipation of the excess excitation energy by heat (increased DIo/RC and DIo/CSm). The BN-PAGE analysis of thylakoid membrane protein complexes showed that La(III) induced the degradation of supercomplexes, PSII core, LHCII, PSI core, LHCI, and F1-ATPase binding Cyt b6f complex. Collectively, this study revealed that La(III) causes significant degradation of thylakoid membrane proteins, thereby promoting the decomposition of photosynthetic complexes, ultimately destroying the chloroplast structure and reducing the photosynthetic performance of rice seedlings.

Lanthanum Supplementation Alleviates Tomato Root Growth Suppression under Low Light Stress

Supplementation with rare earth elements (REEs) such as lanthanum and cerium has been shown to promote plant elongation and/or increase crop yields. On the other hand, there are reports that REE supplementation of plants has no such effect. The appropriate modes for REE utilization and the underlying mechanism are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated how REE supplementation of plants under low light stress affects plant growth and gene expression. Under low light stress conditions, tomato root elongation was observed to be reduced by about half. This suppression of root elongation was found to be considerably alleviated by 20 mM lanthanum ion supplementation. This effect was plant-species-dependent and nutrient-condition-dependent. Under low light stress, the expression of the genes for phytochrome-interacting factor, which induces auxin synthesis, and several auxin-synthesis-related proteins were markedly upregulated by lanthanum ion supplementation. Thus, we speculate that REE supplementation of plants results in auxin-induced cell elongation and alleviates growth suppression under stress conditions.

CeO2 nanoparticles improved cucumber salt tolerance is associated with its induced early stimulation on antioxidant system

Salinity is a global issue limiting efficient agricultural production. Nano-enabled plant salt tolerance is a hot topic. However, the role of nanoparticles induced possible early stimulation on antioxidant system in its improved plant salt tolerance is still largely unknown. Here, poly (acrylic) acid coated nanoceria (cerium oxide nanoparticles) (PNC, 7.8 nm, -31 mV) with potent ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging ability are used. Compared with control, no significant difference of H₂O₂ and O₂^•─ content, MDA (malondialdehyde) content, relative electric conductivity, and Fv/Fm was found in leaves and/or roots of cucumber before onset of salinity stress, regardless of leaf or root application of PNC. While, before onset of salinity stress, compared with control, the activities of SOD (superoxide dismutase, up to 1.8 folds change), POD (peroxidase, up to 2.5 folds change) and CAT (catalase, up to 2.3 folds change), and the content of GSH (glutathione, up to 3.0 folds change) and ASA (ascorbic acid, up to 2.4 folds change) in leaves and roots of cucumber with PNC leaf spray or root application were significantly increased. RNA seq analysis further confirmed that PNC foliar spray upregulates more genes in leaves over roots than the root application. These results showed that foliar sprayed PNC have stronger early stimulation effect on antioxidant system than the root applied one and leaf are more sensitive to PNC stimulation than root. After salt stress, cucumber plants with foliar sprayed PNC showed better improvement in salt tolerance than the root applied one. Also, plants with foliar sprayed PNC showed significant higher whole plant cerium content than the root applied one after salt stress. In summary, we showed that foliar spray of nanoceria is more optimal than root application in terms of improving cucumber salt tolerance, and this improvement is associated with better stimulation on antioxidant system in plants.