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0Biophysical aspects of increasing plant productivity when grown under nanocomposite photoconversion materials
M.O. Paskhin1*, D.V. Yanykin12, S.V. Gudkov1
1-Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilova St., 119991 Moscow, Russia 2- Institute of Basic Biological Problems, FRC PSCBR, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Institutskaya St.,
142290 Pushchino, Russia
* pashin.mark@mail.ru
Modern agriculture cannot be imagined without the introduction of smart and efficient technologies. These, undoubtedly, include technologies for directed regulation of the illumination of agricultural plants, because light is one of the crucial factors determining the growth and development of plants [1]. The quantity and quality of natural light determine the economics and feasibility of crop production in various regions of the world. To stimulate photosynthetic processes in plants, they are illuminated with light in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm, called photosynthetically active radiation. Depending on the climatic conditions of cultivation, farmers shade or additionally illuminate the plants, and they also change the spectrum of the light reaching the plants. One of the ways to change the spectral composition of light is through the use of photoconversion covers, which convert light little used by plants into photosynthetically active radiation [2,3].
We have developed several metal-containing and carbon-containing photoconversion coatings based on nanoparticles: Sr0.955Yb0.020Er0.025F2.045 and Sr0.910Yb0.075Er0.015F2.090 (1), Eu2O3 (2), Eu3+:LaF3 (3), graphene oxide (4), and ZnO (5). Nanoparticles were obtained by various methods: co-precipitation, laser fragmentation, and hydrothermal-microwave treatment. 1-4 nanoparticles were mixed with fluoroplastic varnish and applied by cold synthesis at room temperature; 5 nanoparticles were mixed with acrylic polymer and is applied using a magnetron. 1 cover absorb light in the near-infrared range and fluoresced in the green-red range. 2-5 covers absorb light in the ultraviolet range and fluoresced in the red (2), orange (3), blue and red (4), and blue (5) ranges.
The effectiveness of obtained photoconversion covers was studied when growing plants. As a result, these covers were shown to improve plant growth and development. Almost all covers improved the morphological parameters of plants, but each in a slightly different way. For example, covers-based Sr0.955Yb0.020Er0.025F2.045 and Sr0.910Yb0.075Er0.015F2.090 accelerated the adaptation of tomato plants to a new type of lighting. Cover based on Eu2O3 accelerated the adaptation of photosystems in tomato plants when the light was turned on, which allowed plants to use more solar energy for photosynthesis and less for repair processes. However, this cover did not affect cucumber plants in any way. Cover based on Eu3+:LaF3 did not affect the parameters of plant growth and development, while it contributed to the adaptation of plants to stressful abiotic conditions, in particular to high and positive low temperatures. This is due to the fact that additional orange light helps to increase the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and so on [4]. A photoconversion cover based on graphene oxide, due to its wide fluorescence spectrum in the range of photosynthetically active radiation, significantly increased the growth and development of tomato plants. A cover based on ZnO nanoparticles improved the morphological parameters of pepper and cucumber plants by 25-30%. In addition, this cover had bacteriostatic properties but was biocompatible with eukaryotic cells.
This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (075-15-2022-315) for the organization and development of a World-class research center "Photonics".
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