Seed priming with polyethylene glycol induces antioxidative defense and metabolic regulation of rice under nano-ZnO stress

The present study was carried out to investigate the beneficial impact of seed priming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) under different concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO), i.e., 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg L⁻¹ in two cultivars of Oryza sativa (Zhu Liang You 06 and Qian You No. 1). Physiological parameters were improved by priming with 30 % PEG in both cultivars under stress treatments. Seed priming with 30 % PEG improved α-amylase activities and total soluble sugar contents of both cultivars under nano-ZnO stress. In addition, glutathione reductase (GR) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and proline contents decreased after the priming treatment in both cultivars under different nano-ZnO concentrations. Expression of GR1, GR2, Amy2A, and Amy3A genes in shoots and roots of both cultivars increased and had higher transcription levels under the nano-ZnO stress condition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis did not show any significant effects of the priming treatment on the band observed at 3400, 900, 1600, and 1000 cm⁻¹ corresponding to alkenyl stretch (C = C), carboxyl acid (O-H), nitrile (C = N), and aromatic (C-H), respectively, in both cultivars under nano-ZnO stress.