Silicon dioxide nanoparticles enhance plant growth, photosynthetic performance, and antioxidants defence machinery through suppressing chromium uptake in Brassica napus L.

Chromium (Cr) is a highly toxic heavy metal that is extensively released into the soil and drastically reduces plant yield. Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) were chosen to mitigate Cr toxicity due to their ability to interact with heavy metals and reduce their uptake. This manuscript explores the mechanisms of Cr-induced toxicity and the potential of Si NPs to mitigate Cr toxicity by regulating photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defence, along with the role of transcription factors and heavy metal transporter genes in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Rapeseed plants were grown hydroponically and subjected to hexavalent Cr stress (50 and 100 µM) in the form of K2Cr2O7 solution. Si NPs were foliar sprayed at concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 µM. The findings showed that 100 µM Si NPs under 100 µM Cr stress significantly increased the leaf Si content by 169% while reducing Cr uptake by 92% and 76% in roots and leaves, respectively. The presence of Si NPs inside the plant leaf cells was confirmed by using energy-dispersive spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The study's findings showed that Cr had adverse effects on plant growth, photosynthetic gas exchange attributes, leaf mesophyll ultrastructure, PSII performance and the activity of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. However, Si NPs minimized Cr-induced toxicity by reducing total Cr accumulation and decreasing oxidative damage, as evidenced by reduced ROS production (such as H2O2 and MDA) and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant activities in plants. Interestingly, Si NPs under Cr stress effectively increased the NPQ, ETR and QY of PSII, indicating a robust protective response of PSII against stress. Furthermore, the enhancement of Cr tolerance facilitated by Si NPs was linked to the upregulation of genes associated with antioxidant enzymes and transcription factors, alongside the concurrent reduction in metal transporter activity.