Proteomic and physiological analyses of wheat seeds exposed to copper and iron nanoparticles

•Number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight were increased in wheat varieties with Cu NPs exposure.•Cu NPs enhanced glycolysis and starch degradation related proteins in galaxy-13 compared to Pakistan-13 and NARC-11.•Fe NPs increased proteins related to glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle in Pakistan-13 and NARC-11.•Cu and Fe NPs increased sugar content and super oxide dismutase activity in seeds of wheat varieties.•Cu NPs exposure increased Cu content while Fe NPs did not change Fe content in wheat seeds.

To elucidate the role of Cu and Fe NPs on the yield of wheat varieties, a gel-free proteomic technique was used. NPs were synthesized and characterized through zeta potential, EDX, and SEM. Spike length, number of grains per spike, and 1000 grain weight were increased in wheat varieties treated with 25 ppm Cu and Fe NPs. On treatment with 25 ppm Cu and Fe NPs, a total of 58, 121, and 25 proteins were changed in abundance in wheat seeds of galaxy-13, Pakistan-13, and NARC-11, respectively. In galaxy-13, exposure to Cu NPs increased proteins involved in starch degradation and glycolysis. Furthermore, the number of proteins related to starch degradation, glycolysis, and tricarboxylic acid cycle was increased in galaxy-13 on Fe NPs exposure. Proteins related to glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle was increased in Pakistan-13 and NARC-11 by Fe NPs exposure. The sugar content and SOD activity was increased in wheat seeds treated with Cu and Fe NPs. The Cu content was increased at 25 ppm Cu NPs exposure in seeds of wheat varieties. These results suggest that Cu NPs improved stress tolerance in wheat varieties by mediating the process of starch degradation, glycolysis, and tricarboxylic acid cycle through NPs uptake.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (210KB)Download full-size image