Progress 06/01/17 to 05/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Academics, Government, Industry, General Public. Changes/Problems:NA What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Throughout the entire award period, the PIs focused on the professional development of undergraduate and graduate students with weekly in-person research group meetings, except for the virtual meetings throughout the pandemic. Mentoring involved "at the bench" lab training with reviews of data, modifications to procedures, and assistance in technical writing and oral communication. Graduate students contributing to this research include Matthew Potter (MS 2020), Anthony Cartwright (MS defended 2022, in revision), Justin Deakin (MS in preparation), and Li-Ting Yen (Ph.D. anticipated 2023). Multiple undergraduates contributed to the research project (Jessica, Kyle Jackson, Stacey Whitehair, Harley Cragun, Nikki Butler, Hannah Begay, Erin Nowak, Teagan Groh, Emma Khorunzhy, and Lauren Bomer). One strong aspect of the group is its interdisciplinary approach. Additionally, the co-advisement of Ms. Yen allows the PIs opportunities to interact with faculty from Taiwan's National Chung Hsing University. Student education enabled by this award is continuing in the Summer of 2022 with the start of a Ph.D. student from India and a visiting pre-doctoral student from Iran. In 2021 and 2022, the PIs contributed to an NSF REU program, STEM for Plant Health, mentoring four undergraduate students each year in their labs for the ten-week program. PI Jacobson supervised two female Native American students in 2021, and two female students in 2022 with a focus on NP transport and soil fate; Key Outcome-3 is an outcome of the summer research and the undergraduate students are presenting at the 2022 SACNAS and SNO conferences. PIs Britt and Anderson also mentored two pairs of female students with a focus on isolation techniques for endophytes from wheat seeds to determine whether they would mitigate drought stress in the plant, presented at SACNAS 2021. PI McLean provided training and access to advanced analytical instrumentation to these teams. These products will be employed and improved with 2022 REU students and disseminated using Digital Commons. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Findings have been disseminated through oral and poster presentations at professional conferences (including virtual conferences during the pandemic), followed by the publication of results in open-access, peer-reviewed journals, and archiving of data and student theses in the open-access Digital Commons. Conferences include The Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO), The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), The Western Nutrient Conference, The ACS Colloid and Surfaces National Meeting, Gordon Research Conferences (GRC), Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), as well as USU Student Research Symposia. Invited presentations of this research include international presentations in China and South Korea. Publications from this supported research are found in Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Science: Nano, ACS Applied Nanomaterials, MRS Advances, Nature Food, Journal of Plant Nutrition, Journal of Seed Science, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B: Soil and Plant Science, Nature Scientific Reports, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Agronomy, Molecules, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Industrial Biotechnology, Botany, International Journal of Nanotechnology What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?NA
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Major Activities Completed: This research focused on whether CuO, ZnO, and SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) can mitigate damage caused by drought in wheat. Studies used a drought-tolerant variety of wheat (Triticum aestivumvar. Juniper), a cultivar grown commercially in dryland farming on calcareous soils, with roots colonized by Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 (PcO6) that provide a protective root microbiome. Methods to assess plant vigor, photosynthetic status, and evapotranspiration were developed as well as the tools for quantification of metabolites in the rhizosolutions that would chelate ions of essential metals. The findings show that the NPs did not affect drought tolerance under conditions of complete plant nutrition. However, ZnO NP amendment to a Zn-deficient calcareous soil resulted in higher accumulations of Zn in wheat shoots than supplementation with conventionally applied ZnSO4. These findings support that nanoformulations are effective nutritional supplements. The metabolites in the rhizosphere solutions showed that drought and PcO6 root colonization influenced the composition of metabolites that chelated ions of the essential metals Fe, Zn, and Cu. Studies on the effects of NP coatings that would benefit the plant and its microbiome showed Pluronic F68 and the metabolite glycine betaine to have beneficial outcomes for treated wheat, although drought mitigation was not proven under the tested conditions--under more rigorous droughting conditions, exogenous glycine betaine application promoted regrowth. NP coatings may be needed to target the release of cargo such as plant-beneficial osmolytes like glycine betaine from NPs in the rhizosphere to inhibit coatings from natural rhizosolution materials and limit NP agglomeration in calcareous soils. 2. Specific Objectives Met Objective-1. Identify NP-dose relationships that prime plants for drought protection Drought protection by the selected NPs was not observed and attributed to selection of a drought tolerant wheat cultivar, colonization of the wheat roots by a plant probiotic microorganism, PcO6, and fertilization providing required nutrition. The NP dosing was selected based on the toxicity assessment. The NP capping layers (glycine betaine and F68) did exhibit bioactivity relevant to drought protection: 1) glycine betaine increased wheat trichome density, and restored wheat growth following severe water withholding and was metabolized by PcO6; 2) F68 increased wheat dry mass and was not metabolized by PcO6. Objective-2. Optimize NP activity / bioavailability through NP coatings The Pluronic F68 triblock copolymer capping layer was demonstrated to enter wheat roots and transport to shoots. F68-coated SiO2 NPs were stable and transported through roots to trichomes of wheat seedlings. Compared to the small molecule osmolyte coatings explored (glycine betaine and proline), the F68 provided NP stabilization through steric repulsion. Uncoated ZnO NPs were observed to undergo transformations from spherical to needle-like morphologies under the influence of wheat rhizoexudates. Objective-3. Identify the protectant pathways in the plant and rhizosphere primed by the NPs. Geochemical modeling of the rhizosphere solutions of watered and droughted wheat categorized the principal metal chelates that transport Zn, Cu, and Fe. Metabolomic profiles of the rhizoexudates were characterized, revealing changes in response to drought and presence of plant beneficial soil microbe, PcO6. 3. Summary of Significant Results and Key Impacts Key Outcome-1. Micronutrient NP (ZnO, CuO, SiO2) ability to mitigate abiotic stress effects in wheat is masked for a drought-tolerant wheat cultivar grown with roots colonized by the plant probiotic PcO6, under full nutrient conditions as would match ideal field agricultural practice (Potter et al., ES&T, 2021). Analyses of harvested plants revealed NPs associated with the root hairs and root biofilms that together with bound sand or soil particles comprise the rhizosheath. The root and microbial exudates enhance metal release from the metal-oxide NPs to a significantly greater extent than for the NPs in unplanted control pots. These findings support that NPs will contribute to the supply of essential elements in the plant and may serve as rhizo-localized sustained nutrient release vehicles. Key Outcome-2. Wheat grown in calcareous soils amended with ZnO NPs accumulates greater Zn in shoots than with a conventional soil treatment for Zn - deficiency using ZnSO4 (Deakin, MS Thesis + manuscript in preparation). These findings suggest targeting / residence / bioavailability of the NP is enhanced in the rhizosphere vs. the conventional fertilizer salt formulation. Healthy, well-nourished plants are more resistant to biotic/abiotic stressors; these soil studies support that NP fertilizers are capable of targeted (rhizosphere-localized) delivery of an essential metal. Metabolomic analyses and geochemical modeling (Hortin et al, Frontiers in Plant Science, 2022 under review) of the rhizosphere solution from wheat seedlings show Zn predominantly exists as the free ion so that the normal root uptake ion channels would be functional for Zn loading into the plant. This finding is important because Zn is often a limiting factor globally in soils, a fact that contributes to Zn deficiencies in human diets dependent on those crops. Neither drought nor PcO6 colonization was a driving factor for Zn complexation in the rhizosphere solution, but drought did maximize the capacity of the pore water for Zn loading into wheat. Key Outcome-3.Significant biotransformations of NP morphologies in monocot and dicot rhizospheres were observed. ZnO NPs exposed to radish rhizosphere solutions retained their shapes and were smaller than those in soils lacking plants. When influenced by wheat roots, ZnO NPs morphed into needle-like structures. These findings highlight the importance of crop type in influencing the fate of the NPs in agricultural soils. The data also demonstrate the longevity of NP structure in the calcareous soils, a process that could be important in plant bioavailability accounting for the greater impact of ZnO NPs over Zn ions for Zn shoot accumulation in the calcareous soil. The persistence of ZnO NPs, not just in watered soil, but within the rhizosphere of wheat and radish over 4 weeks is novel and suggests that the fate of fertilizer NPs in soils and subsequent cropping cycles should be investigated. Key Outcome-4. Drought and microbial root colonization change metabolites with metal-chelation properties differentially in wheat shoots and rhizosphere solutions. The bioavailability of metals from soil minerals, such as the metal oxides, was demonstrated to be brokered in the rhizosphere through the root and microbial metabolites that chelate metal ions (Jacobson et al., Industrial Biotechnology, 2018). Geochemical modeling of the rhizosphere metabolites predicts different chelation patterns for Cu, Fe, and Zn (Hortin et al, Frontiers in Plant Science, 2022 under review after revision). Chelation modifies the relative solubility of the Zn, Cu, and Fe metals and currently, the bioavailability to plant and microbe of the chelates is unresolved.These findings reveal that metal chelation in the rhizosphere is another aspect of abiotic stress that requires further study to better understand the potential impact on plant vigor. Key Outcome-5. F68-capped and bare SiO2 NPs aggregate on root surfaces and the sand grains entrapped in the surrounding rhizosheath, consistent with NPs in the rhizosphere as targeted delivery systems. F68 capped SiO2 NP transport to trichomes, demonstrating root-to-shoot delivery. (Cartwright, et al., 2022 MRS Advances). These results suggest that root applications of composite NPs could act as delivery vehicles to boost plant growth.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Neto, M.E., Britt, D.W., Jackson, K.A., Braccini, A.L., Inoue, T.T., & Batista, M.A. (2020, December 07). Early development of corn seedlings primed with synthetic tenorite nanofertilizer | Desenvolvimento inicial de pl�ntulas de milho tratadas com nanofertilizante tenorita. Journal of Seed Science, 42, 1-9.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Presentations
Anderson, A. J. (Presenter & Author), Jacobson, A., McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Korean Plant Pathology Program, "Nanoparticles and their future in agriculture," Seol. (October 2018 - Present)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Presentations
Britt, D. W. (Moderator), Jacobson, A., McLean, J. E., Anderson, A. J., Cartwright, A., Deakin, J., Potter, M., Sparks, D., Gordon Research Conference: Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems, "Nanoparticle Activity in the Wheat Rhizosphere," GRC, Southern New Hampshire University. (June 19, 2022 - June 24, 2022)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Presentations
Britt, D. W. (Presenter & Author), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Cartwright, A. (Author Only), Kjar, A. (Author Only), Vargis, E. (Author Only), Gordon Research Conference: Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems, "Transitioning Excipients from Medicine to Agriculture -- Bioactive NP Capping," GRC, Southern New Hampshire University. (June 19, 2022 - June 24, 2022)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Presentations
Britt, D. W. (Invited Lecture), Cartwright, A. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Vargis, E. (Author Only), Materials Research Society, "Transitioning Bioactive Excipients from Drug Delivery to Crops," Boston. (November 30, 2021 - December 3, 2021)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Presentations
Britt, D. W., Jacobson, A. (Presenter & Author), Hortin, J. (Author Only), McLean, J. E., Anderson, A. J., Soil Science Society of America International Soils Meetings, "From Implications to Applications: Engineered Nanoparticles in the Rhizosphere," Soil Science Society of America, Salt Lake City, UT. (November 7, 2021 - November 11, 2021)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Presentations
Yen, L.-T., Britt, D. W., McLean, J. E., Anderson, A. J., Lin, Y.-T., Jacobson, A., Soil Science Society of American Meetings, "Fe and P phytoavailability from novel nano-sized, chitosan-coated, meta-vivianite particles in quartz sand saturated with calcareous soil pore water," SSSA, Salt Lake City. (November 7, 2021 - November 11, 2021)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Deakin, J. W. (Presenter & Author), Potter, M. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Cooper, J. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), PSC Graduate Student Seminar, "Effects of Zinc oxide nanoparticles on drought tolerance in winter wheat," Plants, Soils and Climate Department, USU, Logan, UT. (April 1, 2019)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Deakin, J. W. (Presenter & Author), Matthew, M. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Cooper, J. E. (Author Only), McLean, J. E., Britt, D. W., Anderson, A. J., Jacobson, A., PSC Student Showcase, "Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on drought tolerance in winter wheat," Plants, Soils and Climate Department, USU, Logan, UT. (March 25, 2019)
|
Progress 06/01/20 to 05/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:We continue to focus on dissemination to: Academics, Government, Industry, General Public. Changes/Problems:There continue to be disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has periodically affected PI and student access to labs, instruments, and growth chambers. All research and dissertation meetings will continue to be held virtually. PPE use and hygiene plans are continually updated to allow continued research efforts and progress. Dissemination at conferences is tentatively scheduled in-person, with virtual presentation as a contingency. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We continued weekly research group meetings, transitioning completely to online meetings under COVID-19 guidelines. Graduate students and undergraduates working on the project attend weekly group meeting where the four PIs provide feedback during discussions of student research. The online format increased the opportunity for additional students interested in the research to attend and ask questions. The PhD student participating in the new dual degree program between USU and National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan is continuing with her training and research using the surface analytical equipment in the PI labs and the USU Core Microscopy Center, where she has passed the training exams to be an independent SEM user. She has synthesized bare and capped nanoparticles, and continues with characterization analyses prior to applying to plants to assess drought mitigation. This international exchange also provides the PIs opportunities to interact with faculty from Taiwan. The PIs developed 10-week summer research modules and hosted four undergraduates students in their labs as part of a USU Biological Engineering Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). PIs Jacobson hosted two Native American students from the USU Blanding Campus, a Native American Non-Tribal Serving Institution (NANTSI). PIs Britt and Anderson hosted two students from Salem College and George Institute of Technology, and provided additional mentoring to another pair of students from the College of Southern Idaho and the University of Manoa at Hawaii. PI McLean provided training and access to advanced analytical instrumentation to these teams. Protocols were developed for by one pair of students to isolate and identify endophytes from wheat and study their interactions with beneficial soil microbes. The other pair developed soil column protocols for analyzing NP transport and transformation in the rhizosphere. These educational materials were prepared at a level for students with little to no background in plants, soils, or microbiology. These products will be employed and improved with 2022 REU students, and disseminated using Digital Commons. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Dissemination continues to be through virtual conference attendance and publication in open-access, peer-reviewed journals, and archiving of data and student theses in the open access Digital Commons. During the past year the PIs and students working on this research presented the work at eight virtual conferences: Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (2 presentations, 1 poster); The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) (2 posters); The Western Nutrient Conference (1 poster, received 2nd place); The ACS Colloid and Surfaces National Meeting (1 poster, received 1st place), and the USU Student Research Symposium (1 poster, 1 oral presentation). The PIs and students disseminated the research in a range of topic journals: Environmental Science and Technology, ACS Applied Nanomaterials, Nature Food, Journal of Plant Nutrition. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The focus during this final year of research is on: 1) Rhizosphere metabolite analysis in the presence / absence of selected NPs and understanding changes in these profiles in the presence / absence of native soil microbes; 2) Osmolyte NP coatings (glycine betaine) on wheat recovery from severe drought stress; 3) Wheat drought response in zinc-deficient and zinc-sufficient soils amended with ZnO NPs or ZnSO4. The research to date has identified optimal doses of glycine betaine in promoting wheat recovery from drought stress--these concentrations will be employed as coatings with selected NPs. Glycine betaine is involved in cellular osmolyte balance--a triblock copolymer (Pluronic F68) will continue to be examined as a capping agent that also exhibits osmolyte activity. This research will be presented as an invited talk in an Agricultural section at the Fall 2021 MRS meeting. The data from studies of wheat grown in two calcareous soils, one Zn sufficient and the other Zn deficient, are being analyzed, and will be compiled into an M.S. thesis and associated manuscript. The influence of ZnO NPs is being contrasted against soils treated with ZnSO4, which is used to treat zinc-deficient soils in agriculture. These experiments conducted in soils from local dryland agricultural plots will assist in translating outcomes into potential applications and will be presented at the Fall SSSA conference. Data analysis of the plant and microbial products isolated from the rhizospheres of wheat grown in sand in the presence of soil pore waters from calcareous soils differing in management and cropping is ongoing. Investigations of the diversity of siderophores and correlation with bacterial phyla through 16S rDNA analysis in soil pore waters from the soils are ongoing. The interplay of added NPs and native microbes on rhizosphere metabolites are resulting in significant shifts in metabolite profiles. These results are being compiled into an M.S. thesis and corresponding manuscript focusing on how wheat changes its metabolome in response to drought, and microbial colonization with NPs in the growth matrix. These data will be contrasted with metabolite shifts for surface sterilized wheat seeds colonized with the model root-colonizing soil bacterium, PcO6.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In Year-4 of this research the drought-priming effects of CuO, ZnO and SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) on wheat response to water withholding were assessed under conditions simulating that of dryland farming, where a drought tolerant variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Juniper) was grown in a nutrient-sufficient, solid growth matrix and in the presence of a root-colonizing plant-beneficial bacterium to provide a protective root microbiome. Application rates of CuO, ZnO, and SiO2 NPs were investigated over concentration ranges representing fertilizer levels, with maxima of 30 Cu, 20 Zn, and 200 Si (mg metal/kg matrix). Seeds of this drought-tolerant cultivar were surface sterilized, inoculated with Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 (PcO6) and planted in a sterile sand growth matrix amended with a single type of NP. A modified half-strength Hoagland's solution containing copper and zinc salts was employed as a fertilizer. This experimental design thus analyzed the wheat response to the nano metal oxide particles exerting nano-associated effects. These nano effects may include NP sorption to the roots (biofilm) and uptake, NP sorption and acting as point sources for sustained ion release, and NP production of reactive oxygen species. The NP roles of providing respective micronutrients of Cu, Zn and Si, were screened by working in a background of ½ strength Hoagland's solution containing these micronutrients. Results were contrasted with NP-free controls under the same watering, fertilizing, and simulated drought stress conditions. All NP amendments were at fertilizer levels to provide relevance to agricultural settings. An 8-day drought imposed on 14-day-old wheat seedlings decreased shoot and root mass, shoot water content, and the quantum yield of photosystem II when compared to watered plants. PcO6 root colonization was not impaired by drought or NPs. A dose-dependent increase in the Cu, Zn, and Si from the NPs was observed from analysis of the rhizosphere solution, and this process was not affected by drought. Consequently, fertilizer concentrations of the NPs did not further improve drought tolerance in wheat seedlings under the growth conditions of adequate mineral nutrition and the presence of a beneficial microbiome. These findings suggest that potential NP benefits in promoting plant drought tolerance occur only under certain environmental conditions. Benefits to grain yield in a single growing season as well as long-term effects across growing seasons for soils receiving these particles are possible scenarios that require additional investigation and may provide protection against drought. The 2021 growing season in the Western United States was marked by severe total losses of dryland wheat due to a 22-year drought. Paralleling these studies of wheat grown in sand, the influence of NP amendments on wheat growth under drought stress in calcareous soils, one of which is zinc-deficient, were completed and data are being analyzed. Studies into the influence of soil pore waters and associated soil microbes on the type and concentrations of metabolites in the rhizosphere are ongoing.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Esper Neto, M., Britt, D. W., Jackson, K. A., Coneglian, C. F., Inoue, T. T., & Batista, M. A. (2021). Early growth of corn seedlings after seed priming with magnetite nanoparticles synthetised in easy way. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B: Soil and Plant Science, 71(2), 9197. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2020.1852304
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Giasuddin, A.B.M., Cartwright, A., & Britt, D.W. (2021). Silica Nanoparticles Synthesized from 3,3,3-Propyl(trifluoro)trimethoxysilane or n-Propyltrimethoxysilane for Creating Superhydrophobic Surfaces. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 4(4), 4092-4102.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Neto, M. E., Britt, D.W., Jackson, K.A., Coneglian, C.F., Cordioli, V.R., Braccini, A.L., Inoue, T.T., & Batista, M.A. (2021). Assessments in early growth of corn seedlings after hausmanite (Mn3O4) nanoscale seed priming. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 44(11), 1611-1620.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Absence of Nanoparticle-Induced Drought Tolerance in Nutrient Sufficient Wheat Seedlings
Matthew Potter, Justin Deakin, Anthony Cartwright, Joshua Hortin, Dakota Sparks, Anne J. Anderson, Joan E. McLean, Astrid Jacobson, and David W. Britt
Environmental Science & Technology Article ASAP
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00453
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Potter, M., Hanson, C., Anderson, A. J., Vargis, E., & Britt, D. W. (2020). Abiotic stressors impact outer membrane vesicle composition in a beneficial rhizobacterium: Raman spectroscopy characterization. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78357-4
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Deakin, J et al. Is mitigation of drought stress by zinc oxide nanoparticles driven by a nano-specific mechanism or alleviation of micronutrient deficiency? Western Nutrient Management Conference. Virtual. March 2-4, 2021. Awards:
1) Soil Fertility Management Industry Impact Award
2) 3rd Place Graduate Student Poster
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Britt, D.W. (2021). Plug-and-play bioinspired seed coatings. Nature Food, 2(7), 456-457
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Cartwright, A., Jackson, K., Morgan, C., Anderson, A. J., & Britt, D. W. (2020, July 01). A review of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticle coating technologies to inhibit agglomeration and increase bioactivity for agricultural applications. Agronomy, 10(7).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Neto, M.E., Britt, D.W., Jackson, K.A., Braccini, A.L., Inoue, T.T., & Batista, M.A. (2020). Early development of corn seedlings primed with synthetic tenorite nanofertilizer | Desenvolvimento inicial de pl�ntulas de milho tratadas com nanofertilizante tenorita. Journal of Seed Science, 42, 1-9.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Presentations
Potter, M. K. (Presenter & Author), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), 95th ACS Colloid and Surface Symposium, "Surface characterization of outer membrane vesicles, biologically-produced colloids, from bacterial biofilms," American Chemical Society, Virtual. (June 14, 2021 - June 16, 2021)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Presentations
Deakin, J. (Presenter & Author), Cartwright, A. (Author Only), Potter, M. (Author Only), Sparks, D. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. R. (Author Only), Student Research Symposium (SRS), "Is Mitigation of Drought Stress By Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Driven By a Nano-Specific Mechanism or Mitigation of Micronutrient Deficiency?," Utah State University, Virtual. (April 14, 2021)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Presentations
Bonebrake, M., Britt, D. W. (Presenter & Author), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), Valiente, J., Cartwright, A., Fresenius Medical Care International, "Characterization of Biofilms in a Synthetic Rhizosphere using Hollow Fiber Mimetic Systems: Crop Microbiomes and Sustainable Agriculture," Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMC-NA), virtual meeting. (February 2021)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Presentations
Cartwright, A. (Presenter & Author), Eskeets, J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) 9th Annual Conference, "5 nm Pluronic F68 Micelles and Glycine Betaine Increase Wheat Seedling Growth and Water Content During Drought." (November 12, 2020 - November 13, 2020)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Presentations
Potter, M. (Presenter & Author), Hansen, C. (Author Only), Vargis, E. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) 9th Annual Conference, "Copper oxide nanoparticles and the outer membrane vesicles of a plant health promoting rhizobacterium." (November 12, 2020 - November 13, 2020)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Presentations
Anderson, A. J., Cooper, J., Potter, M., Cartwright, A., Deakin, J., Hortin, J., Jacobson, A., Britt, D. W., McLean, J. E., Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) 9th Annual Conference, "Nanoparticle and rhizosphere metabolites interactions are influenced by environmental stress, the plant, and root associated microbes," Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, virtual. (November 12, 2020 - November 13, 2020)
|
Progress 06/01/19 to 05/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:We continue to focus on dissemination to: Academics, Government, Industry, General Public. Changes/Problems:There has been some disruption due to the COVID pandemic, which has affected PI and student access to labs, instruments, and growth chambers. All research and dissertation meetings are held virtually. PPE use and hygiene plans have been updated to allow continued research efforts and progress. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students and undergraduates working on the project attend weekly group meeting where the 4 PIs each from different disciplines provide feedback on discussions of their research. The PIs hosted a visiting PhD scholar, Michel Esper Neto, from the Department of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Maringá State University, Brazil for six months, providing him access to in-situ photosynthesis analysis, NP characterization methods, and mentoring during group meetings. The graduate students working on this project also gained experience from Professor YC Kim from the Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea. On a visit to the PIs labs Dr. Kim provided training in preparation of biofilm impaired, and fluorescently labeled mutants of PcO6 to the graduate students, which will permit additional analyses of biofilm formation on wheat roots in the presence and absence of NPs. The PIs continued to participate in the Native American summer mentorship program, NASMP. Due to the COVID pandemic, the PIs developed a virtual 1-week hands-on outreach lab. In addition to providing two female students from Kayenta, AZ fundamental background materials into soils, microbes, and plants, the students were trained to characterize soil physical properties through sedimentation tests, culture bacteria and fungi from different soils using 3M Petrifilms, and observe soil and plant structures using Foldscope optical microscopes. The developed outreach was one of the few examples of a hands-on research experience provided to the participants. Through participation in a funded USDA-REEU, the PIs hosted a female Native American student for 10 weeks in their labs, where she investigated micellar nanodelivery vehicles to wheat rhizospheres for the osmolyte, glycine betaine. Her research provided a strong control for glycine betaine delivered as a capping layer on the metal oxide nanoparticles investigated by the PIs. She learned how to operate the LICOR-6800 portable photosynthesis instrument, perform mass balance analysis, and operate light microscopes to analyze shoot and root tissues. She was also trained in NP characterization using dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. The ongoing research also permitted recruitment of a new PhD student, Mila Yen, who is the first doctoral student in the new dual degree program between USU and National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan. Mila has completed the first half of her doctoral program at NCHU conducting NP research. This fall 2020, she begins the second half of her degree in soil chemistry at USU where her research will encompass studies outlined in this proposal. One year of Mila's USU assistantship will be covered by the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping. She has two years of assistantship funding through a Taiwanese Fellowship. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Prior to the pandemic we continued to disseminate this research through in person attendance at international conferences (SSSA), and invited lectures (Korean Plant Pathology Meeting). As travel was restricted, virtual conferences allowed continued sharing and professional interaction with academic and industry peers. The research was published in highly visible journals (e.g. ES: Nano) and special issues of open access journals (e.g. Agronomy, MDPI). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Wheat growth is transitioning into the characterized soils, which differ in features that will help identify important factors relevant to the use of NPs as fertilizer amendments in calcareous soils. The pH and carbonate components of these soils are anticipated to limit the bioavailability of Zn and Cu but not Si to plants. The role of the root microbiome will be extended by examining how another pseudomonad, GZR4, that enhanced wheat health on droughting, will be assessed with wheat growth in combinations with NPs and SPWs. Additionally, the range of different types of siderophores released by the complex of bacteria present in the native soil pore waters from different calcareous soils will be determined to better understand processes in the dissolution of CuO NPs ; the soil microbes will be classified by 16S RNA analysis and the siderophores initially quantified by type, as catechol or hydroxamate derivatives. Capping of the NPs by soil pore water biomacromolecules (humic acid) as well as compounds that are involved in cellular osmolyte balance (glycine betaine) will be contrasted with a synthetic macromolecule (ethylene-oxide brush layer polymer). Capped NPs will be studied for their effects on the wheat growth and responses to drought in the three soils. To better understand the variability reported in the literature for protective effects of NPs on drought tolerance, wheat will be grown in two calcareous agricultural soils similar in properties except that one is Zn sufficient and the other Zn deficient. The studies will be performed with ZnO NPs because Zn deficiency in soils, and thus their crops, is a global problem leading to human health issues. Methods to identify plant and microbial products that are active in plant responses to stress are continuously being developed and improved with different instrumentation. These studies will define how wheat changes its metabolome in response to drought, and microbial colonization with NPs in the growth matrix. These findings link to the ongoing studies on biofilm formation by the root surface colonizers. With PcO6 as a well-studied model probiotic, the inoculum will include fluorescently labelled mutants to follow biofilm formation and location real time. Studies also will be performed with mutants that are defective in biofilm formation. Other probiotic microbes already isolated from calcareous soils and those identified because of their siderophore production will also be examined for biofilm formation on the wheat roots. Investigations of the diversity of siderophores and correlation with bacterial phyla through 16S rDNA analysis in soil pore waters from the three soils are ongoing. The influence of ZnO NPs on wheat growth and drought stress in an agriculturally managed, zinc deficient soil having similar properties to our three control soils that are zinc sufficient will be investigated. Metabolite profiling will be conducted in leaf tissues and root exudates for microbially colonized plants grown with NPs and with and without drought. Biofilm role / response to root exudate formulations corresponding to wheat exudation under drought and exudation under sufficient watering. The fluorescent protein strains of PcO6 produced by Prof. YC Kim during his visit to the PI labs will be employed for these studies, along with biofilm-forming mutants of PcO6. Capped NP amendments to sand will be conducted as a follow-up to the completed wheat growth / drought studies in sand containing a background consisting of not just the macro nutrients, but also the micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Si). With expertise and assistance from MiLa Yen, the visiting PhD student from Taiwan, we will begin investigating the effects of soil management resulting in different amounts of organic matter on ZnO and CuO NP's role in mitigating water stress in wheat and turf grass. She will also work with an acidic soil (TWDEF), that we are employing as a contrasting growth matrix to the two calcareous soils.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During year-3, native and capped nanoparticles (NPs) were studied or effects of capping on NP agglomeration and mobility. Capping layers were assessed in soil pore water extracts from calcareous and acidic soils. The benefits of root - colonizing bacteria (PcO6, GZR1-9) were assessed to evaluate their effects on drought responses for wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in the presence of three metal oxide NPs. The bare and capped commercial NPs, CuO, ZnO, and SiO2 have been characterized using DLS, zeta potential, SEM, and TEM, and capping layer roles assessed using capped-NP solution turbidity measurements and soil column mobility. The interactions of bare and glycine betaine capped SiO2 NPs with the beneficial root colonizer, Pseudomonas O6, demonstrate low toxicity to biofilms on wheat roots and root-mimetic hollow fiber membranes. The low reactivity of SiO2 compared to CuO and ZnO NPs allows for assessment of bacteria response to the capping layer in absence of core NP activity. A full study of the bare NPs on drought stress has been completed in wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in sand in open pots under LED growth panels at 70% field capacity (FC) with nutrients (Hoagland's modified without chelators) and with a model microbiome of isolate PcO6. Water stress was imposed to 25% FC for up to 8 days. NP concentrations were varied between 5 and 30 mg metal / kg sand for CuO and ZnO, and 30 to 300 mg metal / kg sand for SiO2 to be within agriculturally relevant values. All studies are with the nontoxic levels similar to those used in soil fertilization, allowing these results to be understood in the context of agriculturally managed soils. Evaluation of plant responses to drought were monitored visually, and by measurements of plant growth and leaf water content. Leaf photosynthetic efficiency was measured in situ via measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence and quantum yield of photosystem II. Under the field-relevant conditions of complete mineral nutrition, none of the NPs improved the photosynthetic responses of 14d wheat to 8d simulated drought (up total 22d growth). CuO NP benefitted droughted plants through increased lignification and higher levels of shoot Cu, with potential implications for full term wheat growth. ZnO NPs did not induce increased shoot rigidity; however, leaf tissue showed a dose-dependent increase in Zn content with a strong NP correlation. An assessment of nano-carrier delivery of the osmolyte glycine betaine revealed an increase in leaf trichome density, and reduced evapotranspiration prior to droughting, suggesting a wheat benefit to exogenous glycine betaine delivered via NPs. Changes in concentrations of several metabolites were observed in both the leaf tissues and the root exudates by drought, both in the presence and absence of the NPs. Known osmolytes proline and glycine betaine were among the metabolites, as were low molecular weight organic acids, amino acids and a wheat siderophore; all of these components have metal chelation properties. Root colonization by the pseudomonad PcO6 lowered concentrations of the amino acids and organic acids in the root exudates, decreased plant Cu levels and led to less dissolved Cu in rhizosphere solutions compared to non-colonized wheat. This important role of the root microbiome in influencing the plant-NP interactions was extended to include additional microbial isolates from the three soils under investigation. Four of nine other wheat root colonizing bacteria isolates benefited the host wheat through increased carbon assimilation. Under water withholding conditions carbon assimilation dropped significantly as expected, however two of the 9 isolates had CO2 assimilation rates two-fold higher than wheat colonized with the other microbes as well as the non-colonized control . These outcomes emphasize not only the drought benefitting roles of a subset of microbes in the rhizosphere, but the need to address NP-microbe interactions for considerations of NP soil applications. To investigate how soil properties influence the plant - NP interactions, the effects of sand amendments of soil pore waters (SPW) were evaluated for wheat grown with CuO NPs. The SPW were from the calcareous agricultural soils with different organic C contents. After growth of wheat without PcO6 colonization, higher citrate and wheat siderophore were noted in the rhizosphere solution in response to the CuO NPs for each of the SPW amendments. The SPWs caused similar release of Cu from CuO NPs dependent on their dissolved organic matter. The dissolved Cu was complexed rather than as free ions. In rhizosphere solutions from plants grown without SPW, Cu was complexed mainly with citrate and siderophore producing plant available structures. However, in the presence of the SPWs, complexation was mainly with fulvic acid, producing a complex that was less bioavailable to the plant. The carbonate content of these SPWs also promoted NP dissolution even at the alkaline pH. These findings indicated that organic and carbonate materials in soils have a strong impact on the response of plants to NPs.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Giasuddin, A. B. M., Cartwright, A., Jackson, K., & Britt, D. W. (2019, March). One-step hydrophobic silica nanoparticle synthesis at the air/water interface. To appear in Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hortin, J. M., Anderson, A. J., Britt, D. W., Jacobson, A., & McLean, J. E. (2019). Soil-derived fulvic acid and root exudates, modified by soil bacteria, alter CuO nanoparticle-induced root stunting of wheat via Cu complexation. Environmental Science Nano, 6, 3638-3652.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Neto, M. E., Britt, D. W., Lara, L. M., Cartwright, A., Dos Santos, R. F., Inoue, T. T., & Batista, M. A. (2020, February 21). Initial development of corn seedlings after seed priming with nanoscale synthetic zinc oxide. Agronomy, 10(2), 10020307.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Jacobson, A. (Presenter & Author), Cartwright, A. (Author Only), Deakin, J. W. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Jackson, K. (Author Only), Potter, M. (Author Only), Sparks, D. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, "Do Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Prime Crop Defenses Against Water Stress," ASA, CSSA, SSSA, San Antonio, TX, USA. (November 10, 2019 - November 13, 2019)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Deakin, J. W. (Presenter & Author), Potter, M. (Author Only), Cartwright, A. (Author Only), Jackson, K. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Sparks, D. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. R. (Author Only), Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, "Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Drought Stress in Winter Wheat," ASA, CSSA, SSSA, San Antonio, TX, USA. (November 10, 2019 - November 13, 2019)
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Progress 06/01/18 to 05/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:We continue to focus on dissemination to: Academics, Government, Industry, General Public. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students and undergraduates working on the project attend weekly group meeting where the 4 PIs provide feedback on their presentation. All members attended a nano-safety webinar. A high school student was trained by the PIs and graduate students working on this project, providing a preview into agriculture STEM to the high school student while providing peer-mentoring opportunities to the graduate students. The high school student presented the research at the Utah High School Science Fair, where he won and presented at the INTEL Science Fair. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Scientific publications Conference presentations USU College Webpage USU Magazine What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Wheat studies in sand are transitioning to incorporate factors from agricultural soils amended as soil pore waters (SPWs). Native soils contain a rich mixture of diverse microbes, dissolved natural organic matter (DNOM), and dissolved minerals and gases that will be considered and characterized. The roles of capping of the NPs by components in the SPWs as well as compounds that are involved in cellular osmolyte balance will be investigated using TEM, DLS, zeta potential measurements, and particle suspension assays. GZR4, a Pseudomonas species isolated from the organically managed wheat field, was the most promising strain in enhancing both the CO2 assimilation and drought tolerance in wheat, and will be further assessed in combination with NPs and SPWs in the next phase of this project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the 2018-19 project period background characterizations of native and capped nanoparticles (NPs), soils, and several plant growth-promoting soil microbes (PcO6, GZR1-9) have been completed along with baseline drought analysis of wheat grown in sand +/- microbes and NPs. Three commercial engineered NPs, CuO, ZnO, and SiO2 have been characterized using DLS, zeta potential, SEM, AFM, and ICP-MS. NP-influence on drought stress has been evaluated in wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in 800 g of sand in open pots under LED growth panels at 70% field capacity (FC) with nutrients (modified Hoagland's without chelators). Water stress is imposed at 25% FC. Plant stress response are monitored through visual morphology assessment, in-situ photosynthetic efficiency via chlorophyll fluorescence and carbon assimilation, wet / dry mass, gene expression, and metal uptake. NP concentrations were varied between 5 and 300 mg metal / kg sand to establish effective doses and toxic thresholds. CuO NP benefits to the droughted plants included increased shoot stiffness and enhanced C assimilation. Wheat growth with ZnO NPs does not exhibit increased rigidity; however, leaf tissue showed an increase in Zn content with a strong NP correlation on drought in the order of ZnO NPs > ZnO bulk > ZnSO4. The concentrations of 25 leaf metabolites, including the osmolytes trehalose and proline, were strongly modulated by ZnO NPs in the rhizosphere during droughting, further supporting NP drought-priming effects. The NPs may condition plant responses via direct interaction or metal ion release. Effects of components in the SPWs on the fate of CuO NPs in the rhizosphere. The dissolution of Cu from CuO NPs in the root solutions (RSs) obtained after plant growth was minimally affected by the type of SPW. However, free Cu2+ ion concentration was reduced with the DNOM content of the SPW. We propose that the metabolites in the root exudates did not complex Cu as effectively as the components of DNOM from SPWs, such as the humic and fulvic acids. The beneficial rhizocolonist, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6, PcO6, strongly influences CuO NP solubility in the three SPWs, highlighting the importance of considering the plant microbiome in NP-plant interactions in soils. PcO6 colonization lowered both dissolved Cu and the free Cu2+. PcO6 was isolated from wheat field-grown on calcareous soil, promotes plant health under stressed conditions, and is employed as a representative probiotic for wheat. Additional cultivable microbes from these soils were isolated and applied to wheat, from which several new wheat probiotics were identified. The microbes from agriculturally managed soils (Org-M or Agr-M) showed stronger effects on C assimilation in wheat than microbes from the forest meadow (TWDEF) or a sterile control. Nine root-colonizing bacteria, GZR1-R9, were isolated and identified using 16S rRNA sequences. For wheat grown with normal hydration, GZR4-R5 (Org-M isolates) and GZR7-R9 (Agr-M isolates) increased the CO2 assimilation rate by 18%-65%. After a drought stress, the wheat colonized by GZR8 and GZR4 had higher CO2 assimilation rates (107% and 252% than the control).
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Deakin, J. W. (Presenter & Author), Potter, M. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Cooper, J. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), PSC Graduate Student Seminar, "Effects of Znc oxide nanoparticles on drought tolerance in winter wheat," Plants, Soils and Climate Department, USU, Logan, UT. (April 1, 2019)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Deakin, J. W. (Presenter & Author), Matthew, M. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Cooper, J. E. (Author Only), McLean, J. E., Britt, D. W., Anderson, A. J., Jacobson, A., PSC Student Showcase, "Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on drought tolerance in winter wheat," Plants, Soils and Climate Department, USU, Logan, UT. (March 25, 2019)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentations
Jacobson, A. (Presenter & Author), Deakin, J. (Author Only), Hortin, J. (Author Only), Powelson, D. (Author Only), McLean, J. E., Britt, D. W., Anderson, A. J., Soil Science Society of America International Soils Meetings, "Mitigation of water stress in wheat grown in sand amended with ZnO nanoparticles," Soil Science Society of America, San Diego, CA. (January 6, 2019 - January 9, 2019)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Presentations
Potter, M. K. (Presenter & Author), Bahe, C. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J., McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, "CuO nanoparticle influence on wheat photosynthetic efficiency during simulated drought," Washington D.C. (November 14, 2018 - November 17, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Presentations
Potter, M. K. (Presenter & Author), Hanson, C. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Vargis, E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, "Nanoparticle influence on bacterial outer membrane vesicles," Washington D.C. (November 14, 2018 - November 17, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Presentations
Cartwright, A. (Presenter & Author), Kunzler, D. (Author Only), Morgan, C. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J., Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, "Protective osmolyte coronal layers to enhance nanoparticle bioavailability and activity," Washington D.C. (November 14, 2018 - November 17, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Presentations
Cartwright, A. (Presenter & Author), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), Giasuddin, A. B. M. (Author Only), Kunzler, D. (Author Only), Morgan, C. (Author Only), Valiente, J., Britt, D. W., Gordon Research Conference: Nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food, "A novel root mimetic platform for testing the effects of SiO2 nanoparticles on the architecture of beneficial biofilms," GRC, Mount Holyoke, South Hadley, MA. (June 3, 2018 - June 8, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Presentations
Potter, M. (Presenter & Author), Hanson, C. (Author Only), Vargis, E. (Author Only), Britt, D. W., Gordon Research Conference: Nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food, "Bacterial outer membrane vesicles: Nature's nano," GRC, Mount Holyoke, South Hadley, MA. (June 3, 2018 - June 8, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Presentations
Morgan, C. (Presenter & Author), Cartwright, A. (Author Only), Kunzler, D. (Author Only), Britt, D. W., Gordon Research Seminar: Nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food, "Capped nanoparticles improving controlled nutrient delivery to crops," GRC / GRS, Mount Holyoke, South Hadley, MA. (June 3, 2018 - June 4, 2018)
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Progress 06/01/17 to 05/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Through dissemination at multiple conferences the target audiences include: Academics, Government, Industry, General Public. Changes/Problems:We are investigating directly treating seeds with the nanoparticles as an alternative approach to dispersing the particles in the growth medium (sand or soil). Preliminary experiments are focusing on influence on seed germination and emergence of endophytes from the treated seeds. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three graduate students (2 PhD and one MS) in Biological Engineering have been recruited and trained to work on specific aspects of the research. Three graduate students working on this project (Matthew Potter, MS, Anthony Cartwright PhD, and Shuo Chen, PhD) received interdisciplinary training and professional development from the PI and CoPIs in the areas of nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, surface chemistry and capping layers, and microbiology. Two graduate students (Potter, Cartwright) and one undergraduate (Christina Morgan) attended and presented at a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems. This was transformational for the undergraduate student, who is a first-generation student from the Navajo Nation. One of the PhD students on this project (Anthony Cartwright) received formal training through the USU Microscopy Core Facility to operate the scanning electron microscope, and he is attending a short course / workshop on transmission electron microscopy through the University of Utah. The graduate students working on this project have each supervised 1-2 undergraduate students, training them in fundamental techniques such as nanoparticle synthesis, capping, and characterization, as well as plant growth and microbiology methods, thus providing a highly interdisciplinary training applied toward improving agricultural output under constraints of water stress. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?This research has been primarily disseminated through presentations (oral and poster) at professional conferences: Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, Institute of Biological Engineers, and a Gordon Research Conference co-chaired by the PI. Key findings were also reported in a publication, "Interactions between a Plant Probiotic and Nanoparticles on Plant Responses Related to Drought Tolerance" published in Industrial Biotechnology in June 2018 Our research has also been shared through two summer outreach programs. We hosted two students through the "Native American STEM Mentorship Program" (NASMP) for one week in June 2018. The PI labs also hosted three high school students through the "Biotechnology Summer Academy" organized by Utah State University's Center for Integrate Biosystems for one week in July 2018. This provided opportunities to share the research with these high school students, who investigated microbe-plant interactions and resulting biofilm formation using scanning electron microscopy. These students presented their findings to the other Summer Academy participants, thus disseminating the results to a young audience of future STEM-researchers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The capping procedures that have been optimized for the SiO2 NPs will be adapted for the CuO and ZnO particles. Column transport experiments are planned for native and capped NPs in sand and soil columns to assess transport, sorption, and resistance to agglomeration in agriculturally relevant conditions. These particles will then be assessed for activity using wheat with and without PcO6 grown in sand, followed by wheat in the selected Millville soil series. The porewater chemistry from these soils will be fully characterized, and interactions with the NPs assessed, such as formation of natural capping layers on the NPs and subsequent influence on NP activity, availability, agglomeration, and dissolution. A full assessment of NP-induced changes in wheat stomatal conductance and chlorophyll production will be performed, along with assessment of changes in plant morphology and mass. Continued summer outreach education and training will parallel these research activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments toward the primary objectives of this research are outlined below: Objective-1. Identify NP-dose relationships that prime plants for drought protection The major activities completed include identifying toxicity threshold levels for CuO, ZnO, SiO2 nanoparticles to the beneficial soil microbe (PcO6) for the uncapped NPs. SiO2 NPs capped with osmolytes of glycine betaine, proline, and arginine were also assessed against PcO6. These background experiments have demonstrated that the capped and uncapped silica NPs are non-biocidal to PcO6 biofilms, in contrast to ZnO and CuO NPs, which exhibit well-defined toxicity thresholds. Using SEM with EDS the SiO2 NPs are observed to be uniformly incorporated within a PcO6 biofilm grown using a root-mimetic hollow fiber membrane to assess NP-biofilm interactions. The specific objectives of identifying the influence of capped and uncapped NPs on wheat response to water stress are ongoing. Reproducible water stress procedures have been developed for wheat grown in sand and will be applied toward achieving this goal. Objective-2. Optimize NP activity / bioavailability through NP coatings The major activity completed was the development of a series of nanoparticle (NP) capping procedures to reduce agglomeration and improve NP availability as assessed through reduction in capped-NP aggregation / precipitation. Specific objectives met include introducing small molecule osmolytes during NP synthesis in order to modify the NP surface charge and chemistry to prevent NP agglomeration. Osmolytes include glycine betaine, proline, and arginine, with the latter selected as a weak base for tuning NP size during synthesis. These osmolyte capping agents have been investigated for commercial and synthesized silicon dioxide NPs. Preliminary findings have demonstrated that incorporation of the capping layers on/in the SiO2 NPs during synthesis provides a more robust capping layer than post-synthesis addition of osmolytes. Agglomeration assays of the native and capped particles have demonstrated a reduced aggregation rate for glycine betaine modified SiO2 NPs. The biological activity of the capped SiO2 NPs has been investigated against biofilms of a beneficial root-colonizing microbe, PcO6 and contrasted with the activity of uncapped NPs of CuO and ZnO. These results have been included in a publication, "Biofilms benefiting plants exposed to ZnO and CuO nanoparticles studied with a root-mimetic hollow fiber membrane." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The effect of the NPs on wheat growth and priming against water stress has been investigated for sterile and PcO6-colonized wheat. Wheat grown in sand amended with CuO NPs exhibited greater lignification and resistance to lodging, and these results have been included in "Interactions between a Plant Probiotic and Nanoparticles on Plant Responses Related to Drought Tolerance" published in Industrial Biotechnology in 2018. A portable photosynthesis instrument (LICOR 6800), acquired through a competitive intramural grant, has been used to measure chlorophyll production and gas exchange. Objective-3. Identify the protectant pathways in the plant and rhizosphere primed by the NPs. These efforts are scheduled for years 2-3.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Bonebrake, M., Anderson, K., Valiente, J., Jacobson, A., McLean, J. E., Anderson, A. J., & Britt, D. W. (2017, September 19). Biofilms Benefiting Plants Exposed to ZnO and CuO Nanoparticles Studied with a Root-Mimetic Hollow Fiber Membrane. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 66(26), 66196627.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Presentations
Potter, M. (Presenter & Author), Doxie, S. (Author Only), McLean, J. E. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Jacobson, A. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, "CuO Nanoparticle Modified Lignification of Wheat," Los Angeles, California. (November 5, 2017 - November 7, 2017)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Presentations
Britt, D. W. (Presenter & Author), Mohammad Giasuddin, A. B. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, "Self-assembly of tri-functional and di-functional alkane silanes into hydrophobic silica nanoparticles in aqueous media," Los Angeles, California. (November 5, 2017 - November 7, 2017)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Presentations
Britt, D. W. (Presenter & Author), Potter, M. (Author Only), Anderson, A. J. (Author Only), Villanueva, I. (Author Only), Taylor, T. A. (Author Only), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, "Summer education in nano- and biological approaches to protect plants against drought stress," Los Angeles, California. (November 5, 2017 - November 7, 2017)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Presentations
Giasuddin, A. B. M. (Presenter & Author), Harris, T. (Author Only), Lewis, R. (Author Only), Britt, D. W. (Author Only), Institute of Biological Engineering, "Aqueous synthesis of silica-spider silk nano-composite materials," IBE, Salt Lake City. (March 30, 2017 - April 1, 2017)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Presentations
Bonebrake, M. (Presenter & Author), Anderson, K. (Author Only), McLean, J. E., Jacobson, A., Anderson, A. J., Britt, D. W., Institute of Biological Engineering, "Characterization of biofilms and metabolites in a synthetic rhizosphere," IBE, Salt Lake City. (March 30, 2017 - April 1, 2017)
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