Role of carbon nano tubes for improving drought tolerance via upregulation of physiological attributes processes of peanut plant grown in sandy soils

Abstract

Abstract Drought stress resulted due to climatic variations is a universal issue thatoccurs unexpected result in significant impacts on growth, development as well asyield of different plants. Carbon materials impact on plant subjected to different stresses are still poorly studied. Thus, this study was carried outto investigate the feasibility of applying carbon nanotubes (CNTs)(0, 20, & 40mg/L) as foliar treatment for mitigating the reduced effect of water stress (100%, 75% & 50%irrigation water IW) on peanut plants growing in sandy soilthrough assessment growth, productivity, and some physiological and biochemical measurements.Exposure of peanut to decrease irrigation water led to significant decreases in growth, yield photosynthetic pigments, indole acetic acid IAA, and some nutritional components of yielded peanut seeds.While increased osmolytes as total soluble carbohydrates TSS, proline in addition to free amino acids and phenolics, however, foliar spraying with CNTscould ameliorate the diminished impacts of decreased irrigation water on growth and production via enhancing the studied physiological parameters as photosynthetic pigments, IAA, in addition to osmolytes and phenolics. Furthermore, the application of carbon nano tubes improved the nutrient contents expressed by oil yield, protein yield, total carbohydrates, antioxidant activities (DPPH), B- carotene, lycopene and flavonoids in peanut seeds either under normal or water stress conditions. Higher level 40 mg/L CNTs was more effective than lower one 20 mg/L on increasing the above mentioned parameters. In conclusion, foliar treatment with carbon nano tube has the ability to enhance peanut drought tolerance and increase growth and productivity under sandy soil conditions.