A study on the role of Silica nanoparticles in alleviation of fluoride toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings

The present research highlighted the reduction of fluoride toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant by the use of silica nanoparticles of size 90 nm. Two varieties of rice (MTU 1010 and IR 36) were taken and aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of fluoride (1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/L), silica (1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/L) and their combination i.e., fluoride + silica (1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/L) were taken as main treatments. The results revealed that at lower concentrations of fluoride (1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/L) germination rate of both varieties of rice ranged from 90 to 100%. On the other hand, germination, root and shoot length, level of chlorophyll and carotenoid were found to have improved at lower concentrations of silica nanoparticle solutions only. There was not much enhancement in biomass of the varieties. However, the fluoride load in MTU-1010 was found to have been reduced by 35% and 56% on application of nanosilica solutions of at 3.0 and 5.0 mg/L, respectively; Nanosilica application also supported improved the health of rice plants with respect to seed germination, low level of root ion leakage and proline. Moreover, silica nanoparticles had positive impact on plant growth and pigment level in rice leaves. However, further research may be necessary to confirm our findings.