{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T01:13:34Z","timestamp":1790039614611,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763337600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"The Science and Technology Project of Gansu Province","award":["25JRRA807"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["25JRRA807"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012166","name":"National Key R&D Program of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2022YFD1900300"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022YFD1900300"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012166","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["32260549"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["32260549"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University","award":["GSCS\u22122022\u2212Z02"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GSCS\u22122022\u2212Z02"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Iron deficiency limits plant growth and is usually addressed with iron fertilizers. Iron\u2212based nanomaterials (nZVI, \u03b1\u2212FeOOH, \u03b1\u2212Fe2O3, \u03b3\u2212Fe2O3, and Fe3O4) show promise as novel alternatives, but the effects of sulfide nano\u2212zero\u2212valent iron (S\u2212nZVI) on crops remain little studied. Thus, this study aimed to synthesize a novel iron\u2212based nanomaterial, S\u2212nZVI, using a one\u2212step method, and to evaluate the effects of S\u2212nZVI and nZVI at concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 mg L\u22121 on the physiological and photosynthetic characteristics of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.). In the study, foliar application of iron nanoparticles increased leaf area, biomass, and photosynthesis, with 50 mg L\u22121 the most efficient concentration (S\u2212nZVI &gt; nZVI). Moreover, the photosynthetic rate of the leaves increased significantly (&gt;200%), and carbohydrate accumulation also increased significantly. Additionally, S\u2212nZVI treatment increased leaf iron content by 5.8\u2212fold compared to the control group, likely by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. However, the 100 mg L\u22121 S\u2212nZVI treatment significantly inhibited these physiological and biochemical indicators. Overall, the foliar S\u2212nZVI (50 mg L\u22121) enhanced Chinese cabbage growth by alleviating iron deficiency, boosting antioxidant activity, and reducing oxidative stress; further field trials are needed to verify its effectiveness and cost\u2212efficiency.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants14223509","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,18]],"date-time":"2025-11-18T11:05:31Z","timestamp":1763463931000},"page":"3509","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Foliar Application of Iron Nanoparticles Improves Chinese Cabbage Growth"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Miaomiao","family":"He","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"},{"name":"Key Laboratory of Dry Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jialu","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"},{"name":"Key Laboratory of Dry Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuzhen","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fahad","family":"Munir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postharvest Research and Training Centre, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2523-8803","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fasih Ullah","family":"Haider","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Dry Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liqun","family":"Cai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"},{"name":"Key Laboratory of Dry Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"1101","article-title":"Research Progress of Iron Homeostasis Regulation in Strategy I Plants","volume":"53","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"Soils"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10146","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.7b00822","article-title":"Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of13 C-Skeleton Labeled Graphene Oxide in Wheat","volume":"51","author":"Chen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Qadri, H., Bhat, R.A., and Hakeem, K.R. (2020). Concerns and Threats of Contamination on Aquatic Ecosystems, Springer International Publishing AG."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pirzadah, T.B., Malik, B., Tahir, I., Hakeem, R., and Rehman, R.U. (2020). Lead toxicity alters the antioxidant defense machinery and modulate the biomarkers in Tartary buckwheat plants. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad., 151.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ibiod.2020.104992"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"629","DOI":"10.1111\/ejss.12158","article-title":"Rhizospheric organic compounds in the soil-microorganism-plant system: Their role in iron availability","volume":"65","author":"Mimmo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. J. Soil. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.1007\/s42452-019-0321-y","article-title":"Impact of Fe3O4 nanoparticle on nutrient accumulation in common bean plants grown in soil","volume":"1","author":"Masunaga","year":"2019","journal-title":"SN Appl. Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"6","article-title":"Plant-mediated synthesis of iron nanoparticles for environmental application: Mini review","volume":"87","author":"Tan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mater. Today Proc."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kornarzy\u0144ski, K., Sujak, A., Czernel, G., and Wicek, D. (2020). Effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on germination of seeds and concentration of elements in Helianthus annuus L. under constant magnetic field. Sci. Rep., 10.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-64849-w"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"3003","article-title":"Effects of nano-Fe3O4 on lettuce growth and soil bacterial community structure","volume":"28","author":"Xu","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Appl. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116134","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2020.116134","article-title":"Physiological impacts of zero valent iron, Fe3O4 and Fe2O3 nanoparticles in rice plants and their potential as Fe fertilizers","volume":"269","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yoon, H., Kang, Y., Chang, Y., and Kim, J. (2019). Effects of Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles on Photosynthesis and Biochemical Adaptation of Soil-Grown Arabidopsis thaliana. Nanomaterials, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano9111543"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1093\/mutage\/gex006","article-title":"In planta genotoxicity of nZVI: Influence of colloidal stability on uptake, DNA damage, oxidative stress and cell death","volume":"32","author":"Ghost","year":"2017","journal-title":"Mutagenesis"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5291","DOI":"10.1021\/acsnano.8b09781","article-title":"Nanoparticle Size and Coating Chemistry Control Foliar Uptake Pathways, Translocation, and Leaf-to-Rhizosphere Transport in Wheat","volume":"13","author":"Avellan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Acs Nano"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1170","DOI":"10.1021\/acsnano.1c08977","article-title":"Foliar Application with Iron Oxide Nanomaterials Stimulate Nitrogen Fixation, Yield, and Nutritional Quality of Soybean","volume":"16","author":"Cao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acs Nano"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cj.2021.06.002","article-title":"Recent advances in nano-enabled agriculture for improving plant performance","volume":"10","author":"Wu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Crop J."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Qin, X. (2018). Study on the Effect and Impact of Nano-Zero-Valent Iron-Enhanced Ryegrass on Remediation of Lead-Contaminated Sediment. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Hunan University]."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Yang, Y. (2023). Effects and Mechanisms of Coupling of Tufted Mycorrhizal Fungi with Nano Zero-Valent Iron on Inter-Root Processes and Yield Formation in Dryland Maize (Zea mays). [Ph.D. Thesis, Lanzhou University]."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Du, J., Liu, B., Zhao, T., Xu, X., Lin, H., Ji, Y., Li, Y., Li, Z., Lu, C., and Li, P. (2022). Silica nanoparticles protect rice against biotic and abiotic stresses. J. Nanobiotechnology, 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12951-022-01420-x"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Masoumi, Z., Haghighi, M., and Mozafarian, M. (2024). Effects of foliar spraying with melatonin and chitosan Nano-encapsulated melatonin on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Falcato) plants under salinity stress. BMC Plant Biol., 24.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12870-024-05672-7"},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"97","article-title":"Investigation of the growth bacteria and Nano iron on the chlorophyll and some nutrients triticale","volume":"13","author":"Sepehrzadegan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rev. Agrogeoambiental"},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"1","article-title":"The Impacts of Lead Stress on the Growth of Forage Grasses and Their Enzyme Activities","volume":"33","author":"Li","year":"2014","journal-title":"Seed"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Labille, J., Catalano, R., Slomberg, D., Motellier, S., Pinsino, A., Hennebert, P., Santaella, C., and Bartolomei, V. (2020). Assessing Sunscreen Lifecycle to Minimize Environmental Risk Posed by Nanoparticulate UV-Filters\u2014A Review for Safer-by-Design Products. Front. Environ. Sci., 8, Correction in Front. Environ. Sci. 2020, 8, 597861.","DOI":"10.3389\/fenvs.2020.597861"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"84","article-title":"Effects of Nitrogen Application on Fluorescence Characteristics of Cucumber in Fruit Growth Stage under High Temperature Stress","volume":"37","author":"Shi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acta Agric. Boreali-Sin."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114254","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2022.114254","article-title":"Foliar-applied nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) induce differential responses in growth, physiology, antioxidative defense and biochemical indices in Leonurus cardiaca L.","volume":"215","author":"Abbas","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Res."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"6343","article-title":"Effects of different day\/night warming on the photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Sinocalycanthus chinensis seedlings","volume":"32","author":"Xingli","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ecol. Lett."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"139","article-title":"Mechanistic study on the effect of foliar-applied, iron-based nanomaterials on the growth of soybean","volume":"39","author":"Yangyang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Agric. Resour. Environ."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"2496","article-title":"Effects of exogenous melatonin on photosynthesis and physiological characteristics of chry-santhemum seedlings under high temperature stress","volume":"32","author":"Qi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Appl. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1006\/anbo.2000.1349","article-title":"Zinc Mobility in Wheat: Uptake and Distribution of Zinc Applied to Leaves or Roots","volume":"87","author":"Haslett","year":"2001","journal-title":"Ann. Bot."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoleng.2015.04.071","article-title":"Mitigating net global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensities by substituting chemical nitrogen fertilizers with organic fertilization strategies in rice\u2013wheat annual rotation systems in China: A 3-year field experiment","volume":"81","author":"Yang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ecol. Eng."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tai, F., Wang, S., Liang, B., Li, Y., Wu, J., Fan, C., Hu, X., Wang, H., He, R., and Wang, W. (2022). Quaternary ammonium iminofullerenes improve root growth of oxidative-stress maize through ASA-GSH cycle modulating redox homeostasis of roots and ROS-mediated root-hair elongation. J. Nanobiotechnology, 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12951-021-01222-7"},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"30","article-title":"Effect of VPD and potassium interactions on nutrient uptake and photosynthetic properties of tomato under high temperature","volume":"38","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Agric. Res. Arid Areas"},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"10645","article-title":"Effects of magnetite nanoparticles on soybean chlorophyll","volume":"47","author":"Ghafariyan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plaphy.2016.05.037","article-title":"Exposure of engineered nanomaterials to plants: Insights into the physiological and biochemical responses\u2014A review","volume":"110","author":"Du","year":"2017","journal-title":"Plant Physiol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9741","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1902473116","article-title":"Photoelectric conversion on Earth\u2019s surface via widespread Fe- and Mn-mineral coatings","volume":"116","author":"Lu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"844","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2012.11.073","article-title":"Phytotoxicity and uptake of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) by two plant species","volume":"443","author":"Ma","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, Y., Yang, H., Chang, D., Lin, S., Feng, Y., Li, J., and Shi, H. (2017). Biochemical, Physiological and Transcriptomic Comparison between Burley and Flue-Cured Tobacco Seedlings in Relation to Carbohydrates and Nitrate Content. Molecules, 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules22122126"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4981","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jafc.1c00733","article-title":"Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Promote the Growth of Maize (Zea mays) by Regulating Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism in Leaves","volume":"69","author":"Hu","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2018.07.041","article-title":"Effect of selenium on the uptake kinetics and accumulation of and oxidative stress induced by cadmium in Brassica chinensis","volume":"162","author":"Yu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"1","article-title":"Comparative responses to silicon and selenium in relation to antioxidant enzyme system and the glutathione-ascorbate cycle in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp","volume":"133","author":"Wu","year":"2017","journal-title":"chinensis var. utilis) under cadmium stress. Environ. Exp. Bot."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.3109\/17435390.2010.489206","article-title":"Physiological effects of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita mixta) plants","volume":"5","author":"Wang","year":"2011","journal-title":"Nanotoxicology"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"829","DOI":"10.1038\/s43016-022-00596-7","article-title":"Nanobiotechnology-based strategies for enhanced crop stress resilience","volume":"3","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat. Food"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118097","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2022.118097","article-title":"A comparative study on the physicochemical properties, reactivity and long-term performance of sulfidized nanoscale zerovalent iron synthesized with different kinds of sulfur precursors and procedures in simulated groundwater","volume":"212","author":"Xiao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Water Res."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1016\/0926-6585(65)90170-6","article-title":"Spectrophotometric characteristics of chlorophylls a and b and their pheophytins in ethanol","volume":"109","author":"Wintermans","year":"1965","journal-title":"Biochim. Biophys. Acta"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"407","DOI":"10.1080\/00103629409369047","article-title":"Comparison of three wet digestion methods for the determination of plant sulphur by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES)","volume":"25","author":"Zhao","year":"1994","journal-title":"Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1104\/pp.59.2.309","article-title":"Superoxide Dismutases: I. Occurrence in Higher Plants","volume":"59","author":"Giannopolitis","year":"1977","journal-title":"Plant Physiol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"764","DOI":"10.1016\/S0076-6879(55)02300-8","article-title":"Assay of catalase and peroxidases","volume":"2","author":"Chance","year":"1955","journal-title":"Method. Enzymol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/S0021-9258(19)52433-4","article-title":"The assimilation and degradation of carbohydrates by yeast cells","volume":"193","author":"Fales","year":"1951","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."}],"container-title":["Plants"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/14\/22\/3509\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,18]],"date-time":"2025-11-18T11:36:22Z","timestamp":1763465782000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/14\/22\/3509"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"22","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]}},"alternative-id":["plants14223509"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/plants14223509","relation":{},"ISSN":["2223-7747"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2223-7747","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]}}}