Severe weather and pollution have raised the salt levels in certain soils, making it difficult for salt-sensitive crops such as rice to thrive. Researchers have now shared a potential solution in ACS Nano that does not involve genetic modification to help rice plants adapt to these challenging conditions. In laboratory studies, they found that applying magnesium-doped carbon dots, derived from durian peels, to rice seedlings enhanced their antioxidant activity and photosynthesis capability, thereby alleviating the stress caused by saline soil.
Currently, gene editing is the leading method for improving stress resilience in plants. However, this technology can be expensive, and some people are wary of the safety and health implications of genetically modified foods. An alternative approach is to apply nanoscale carbon dots to plant leaves, which can help reduce oxidative stress by imitating the plant’s own antioxidant enzymes. To explore this, Longwei Jiang, Jianguo Zeng, and their team engineered carbon dots from crushed durian peels to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and diminish the damage caused by salt stress in rice plants.
Since durian peels are inedible and comprise 70-85% of the fruit’s weight, they serve as a rich source of carbon for creating biomass-derived carbon dots. The researchers infused their durian-derived carbon dots with magnesium — a crucial nutrient for plant development — and applied them to rice seedlings grown in both salt-free and salty environments.
The results indicated that the seedlings treated with these carbon dots had reduced levels of ROS and grew taller in saline soil compared to untended seedlings. Additionally, the treated seedlings exhibited activation of defense and photosynthesis genes that remained inactive in the untreated ones. While the researchers stress the need for further understanding of how these carbon dots induce such cellular and genetic responses, along with their potential environmental impact on humans and animals consuming these plants, the study suggests that carbon dots could effectively enhance salt tolerance in plants and offer essential insights for agricultural practices.
The authors express their gratitude for the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and Anhui Agricultural University talent introduction project.
