Silicon dioxide nanoparticles as catalysts for improved growth, enzymatic activities and essential oil production in Mentha arvensis L.

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is an aromatic herb cultivated for its essential oil (EO), which has great economic importance in the medicines, cosmetics and food industries. The present study aims to explore the foliage efficacy of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) to achieve the agronomic outcomes of menthol mint. The foliar application of three distinct forms of SiO2 NPs [Aerosil R812 (AR812), Aerosil 200F (A200F) and Aerosil 300 (A300)] revealed that effects were more accentuated by the A200F than AR812 and A300 SiO2 NPs. Out of various applied doses (40, 80, 120, and 160 mg L-1), 120 mg L-1 of Aerosil 200F proved the optimized concentration of SiO2 NPs for the extraordinary performance (in terms of physiological, biochemical, and yield and quality analyses) of menthol mint plants. The optimized concentration of A200F accelerated the photosynthetic efficiency (maximum photosystem II efficiency and photosystem II operating efficiency by 8.43 % and by 19.6 %, respectively) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase (81.3 %), peroxidase (71.9 %), and superoxide dismutase (32%) over the control plants. Moreover, supplementation of SiO2 NPs provides better strength to the plants in controlling the excess levels of lipid peroxidation in terms of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBRAS) by 27.3 % and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration by 86.8 %. Additionally, foliar application of A200F (120 mg L-1) enhanced EO content and the main bio-active constituents i.e., menthol and menthyl acetate by 62.5 %, 13.9 %, and 35.1 %, respectively. Overall, this study suggests that distinct forms of SiO2 NPs have advantageous effects on crop development by eliciting physiological, and biochemical reactions and EO production. (c) 2024 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.