Biofortification of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) Using Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Karen Elizabeth Davies
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Biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) using metal oxide nanoparticles Karen Elizabeth Davies A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy This research programme was carried out in collaboration with AHDB Potatoes and BBSRC 2018 Biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) using metal oxide nanoparticles This work is the intellectual property of the author, BBSRC and AHDB Potato (Note: if there are other owners of the IP, they must also be named here). You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non- commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed in the owner(s) of the Intellectual Property Rights.” 1 Biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) using metal oxide nanoparticles Abstract The project aimed to increase the phytoavaiablilty of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in order to fortify tubers for human consumption to aid the reduced global micronutrient malnutrition (MNM). Simultaneously improve quality of tubers (dry mass), reduction of disease occurrence (soft rot), and uniformity of tuber size. There are three strategies commonly adopted to improve plant fortification: enhanced fertilisers, breeding and nutritional genetic modification. While genetic modification has produced some interesting results, the commercialisation is hindered by public perception and legislation, therefore selective breeding programmes are now being developed to circumvent these issues and help address the global issue of micronutrient malnutrition. This programme of work adopts a more holistic approach, whereby a plant food additive has been developed that can be fed to all varieties of crop without the need to develop new strains through breeding or genetic modification. The work here in produced a number of key findings: • Increase in mineral content of tubers from skin to pith in all applications • Increased foliar growth rate and tubers >30mmm • Iron increased the consistency of tuber size • Retention on minerals in growth media, decreasing leaching and increasing phytoavailability. Also beneficial to decreasing the minerals realised in the environment. Using patented technology, the reactor allows accurate and consistent size production of nanoparticles metal oxide nanoparticles with a production rate of 1 kg per hour whereas previous this rate was approximately 5 grams a day. The bulk production allows nanoparticles to be applied in numerous ways that were previously unfeasible. Sustainable application of iron fortification that retains in the soil strata for a longer period of time than conventional applications Coating of amino acid to the nanoparticle increases the efficiency of nitrogen assimilation, in turn increasing the metabolism of the plant and accumulation of other minerals present in the soil or fertiliser. Costing less than current Fe-chelated with less requirement for application. Significant increases in the mineral content of the tubers means a more nutritional food for human consumption. Increases in weight, yield and faster maturity can mean a solution to sustaining agriculture for a fast growing population. 2 Biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) using metal oxide nanoparticles The fortification method can be added to current fertiliser applications, requiring no drastic changes to current methods. The implications of the project are summarised in the below figure. 3 Biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) using metal oxide nanoparticles Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Tables and figures ................................................................................................................................... 9 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................ 20 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 21 1.1 Nanoparticle synthesis ............................................................................................................ 21 1.2 Minerals: Fortification of food ................................................................................................ 27 1.3 Plant mineral uptake ............................................................................................................... 31 1.4 Forms of fortification for propagation .................................................................................... 34 1.5 Use of metal oxide nanoparticles as a mineral supply ........................................................... 36 1.6 Potato history and consumption ...................................................................................... 37 1.7 Propagation and mineral composition of potato. ............................................................ 41 1.8 Other crops in the Solanaceae family ............................................................................... 43 2 Nanoparticle synthesis and functionalisation .................................................................................... 44 2.1 Materials and methods ............................................................................................................... 44 2.1.1 Calcium oxide nanoparticle synthesis via a sol gel method. ................................................ 44 2.1.2 Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) ...................................................................... 45 2.1.3 Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles, water based: ZnNP method 1 ................................. 46 2.1.4 Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using methanol and acetone: ZnNP method 2 ........ 48 2.1.5 Synthesis of calcium ferrite nanoparticles ........................................................................... 48 2.2 Nanoparticle coating ................................................................................................................... 49 2.2.1 Hydrolysing amino acid ........................................................................................................ 50 2.2.2 Coating MONP ...................................................................................................................... 50 2.2.3 Determining amino acid for FeNP application, AAFeNP ...................................................... 51 2.3 Results of nanoparticle synthesis and functionalisation ............................................................ 52 2.3.1 Synthesis of calcium oxide nanoparticles ............................................................................ 52 2.3.2 Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) .................................................................... 56 2.3.3 Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles .................................................................................. 58 2.3.4 Synthesis of calcium ferrite nanoparticles ........................................................................... 63 2.3.5 Coating technique ................................................................................................................ 66 4 Biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) using metal oxide nanoparticles 2.3 The effect of MONP on seed emergence .................................................................................... 68 3 Potato trials .................................................................................................................................... 70 3.1 Materials and methods ............................................................................................................... 70 3.1.1 Growth pattern of stem; potato trials ................................................................................. 70 3.1.2 Yield and harvested weight: Potato crop ............................................................................. 70 3.1.3 Dry mass percentage (DM%); potato tubers ....................................................................... 71 3.1.4 Determination of mineral content of potato tubers ........................................................... 72 3.1.5 Hydroponic: Trials H2014 and H2015 .................................................................................. 74 3.3.2 Saxon trials: Sax2015 and Sax2016 ...................................................................................... 76 3.3.3 Optimising Fe application using ‘Swift’ (FeLoad2016) ......................................................... 78 3.3.4 Field trials in collaboration with Branston Limited (Field2015, Field2016) ......................... 79 3.3.5 Replication of field trials (FieldRep2016) ............................................................................ 80 3.3.5: Observation of Fe uptake using radioactive isotope 59Fe. (59Fe trial) .............................. 80 3.2 Results and discussion ................................................................................................................ 82 3.2.1 H2014 and H2015 growth rate ...........................................................................................