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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Nutrition
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1475284
This article is part of the Research Topic Application and Mechanism of Plant Biostimulants, Biochar, Fertilizer Products, and Other Nutrition-related Agrochemicals View all 20 articles

Application of Fe2O3 nanoparticles improves the growth, antioxidant power, flavonoid content, and essential oil yield and composition of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss

Provisionally accepted
Parisa Khanizadeh Parisa Khanizadeh 1Hasan Mumivand Hasan Mumivand 1,2*Mohamad R. Morshedloo Mohamad R. Morshedloo 3Filippo Maggi Filippo Maggi 4
  • 1 Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran
  • 2 Department of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khoram Abad, Iran
  • 3 University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran
  • 4 University of Camerino, Camerino, Marche, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss., an endemic and endangered medicinal and aromatic plant in Iran, showcases distinct botanical characteristics and therapeutic promise. According to the IUCN grouping criteria, this plant is facing challenges due to overcollection from its natural habitats. To address this issue, there is an increasing inclination towards cultivating this species within agricultural systems. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of applying Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) at varying concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg L -1 ), as well as bulk Fe2O3 at the same concentrations, on the growth, essential oil production, antioxidant capacity, total phenol, and flavonoid content of D. kotschyi. The foliar application of 100 and/or 200 mg L -1 of Fe2O3 NPs resulted in the greatest leaf length and dry weight, while Fe2O3 NPs at the level of 100 mg L -1 led to the highest leaf/stem ratio. Additionally, spraying 200 mg L -1 of Fe2O3 NPs and all concentrations of bulk Fe2O3 positively impacted chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. Both nano and bulk Fe2O3 supplements stimulated H2O2 production and subsequently enhanced enzymatic antioxidant activity. The use of 50 mg L -1 of Fe2O3 NPs resulted in the highest flavonoid content and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Meanwhile, the highest essential oil content and yield was achieved by the application of 50 and/or 100 mg L -1 Fe2O3 NPs. The addition of low concentration of Fe2O3 NPs (50 mg L -1 ) resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of geranial, while a higher supply of Fe2O3 NPs (200 mg L -1 ) significantly decreased the percentage of neral in the essential oil. Overall, the application of Fe2O3 NPs demonstrated significant potential for increased biomass, enhanced yield, essential oil production, and phytochemical attributes. The findings highlight the versatility of Fe2O3 NPs at optimal concentrations, acting as both a nano-fertilizer and a nano-inducer, promoting the production and accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites in plants.

    Keywords: Iron, plant pigments, FRAP, citral, Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase

    Received: 03 Aug 2024; Accepted: 20 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Khanizadeh, Mumivand, Morshedloo and Maggi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Hasan Mumivand, Department of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khoram Abad, Iran

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.