Silicon nanoparticles help plants grow faster

Researchers from the Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Peat and the Siberian State Medical University report in the journal BioNanoSceince, how nanoparticles of silicon dioxide can accelerate crop growth and increase yields.

The experiments were carried out with cereals and legumes – their seeds were treated with a suspension of SiO2 nanoparticles, and then we observed what changes would occur to the plants that would grow from these seeds. It turned out that such plants synthesize more chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids and phytoestrogens, in addition, more biologically active substances, such as isoflavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, became in plant tissues. As a result, the plants not only grew faster, but were also more resistant to diseases and other unfavorable environmental factors.

In the near future, the authors are going to develop a technology that allows to obtain agricultural products with qualitatively new biological and pharmacological properties. The results obtained were highly appreciated as a breakthrough fundamental research, and the research team has already received proposals for cooperation from agricultural producers from Russia, Germany, Japan, USA, Canada, China, Denmark, India.

Source: www.nkj.ru