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Recently, there has been considerable attention towards the production of environmentally friendly nanoparticles (NPs). In this investigation, the successful synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs) was achieved by employing an eco-friendly technique that utilized an extract from the leaves of local plant quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L.). The synthesized CeO 2 NPs were subjected to characterization using state-of-the-art methods. The prepared CeO 2 NPs contained a round shape with clusters and have a size of 7–10 nm. To assess how effective CeO 2 NPs derived from C. quinoa were against Ustilago tritici , a fungal disease that negatively affects wheat crop globally, a study was performed on two varieties of wheat crop comprised of Arooj (V1) and Akber (V2), cultivated under field conditions. CeO 2 NPs were applied foliarly twice to the wheat crop at four different concentrations: T0 (0 mg/L), T1 (50 mg/L), T2 (75 mg/L), and T3 (100 mg/L). The results revealed that the control group (T0) exhibited the highest disease severity index (DSI) with a value of 75% compared to the other concentrations of CeO 2 NPs on both varieties. At a concentration of 100 mg/L of CeO 2 NPs, the DSI dropped to a minimum of 35% and 37% on both V1 and V2 respectively. These findings indicated that an increase in the concentration of CeO 2 NPs has a beneficial impact on disease severity. Similar patterns have also been observed with disease incidence (DI), with the greatest efficacy observed at a concentration of 100 mg/L of CeO 2 NPs. Our investigation has shown that CeO 2 NPs exhibitd significant antifungal potential against U. tritici which may be a promising strategy to mitigate fungal disease and crop losses globally. [Display omitted] • Chenopodium quinoa leaf extract was used to synthesie CeO 2 NPs • Antifungal potential of CeO 2 NPs was tested in field grown wheat plants • CeO 2 NPs exhibited significant antifungal activity against Ustilago tritici. • CeO 2 NPs could be a promising strategy to combat wheat fungal disease [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr) contamination reduces crop productivity worldwide. On the other hand, the expected increase in the future CO 2 levels (eCO 2) would improve plant growth under diverse growth conditions. However, the synergetic effect of eCO 2 has not been investigated at both physiological and biochemical levels in Cr-contaminated soil. This study aims to analyze the mitigating effect of eCO 2 on Cr VI phytotoxicity in two rice cultivars (Giza 181 and Sakha 106). Plants are exposed to different Cr concentrations (0, 200 and 400 mg Cr/kg Soil) at ambient (aCO 2) and eCO 2 (410 and 620 ppm, respectively). Unlike the stress parameters (MDA, H2O2 and protein oxidation), growth and photosynthetic reactions significantly dropped with increasing Cr concentration. However, in eCO 2 conditions, plants were able to mitigate the Cr stress by inducing antioxidants as well as higher concentrations of phytochelatins to detoxify Cr. Notably, the expression levels of the genes involved in mineral nutrition i.e., OsNRAMP1 , OsRT1 , OsHMA3 , OsLCT1 and iron chelate reductase were upregulated in Cr-stressed Giza 181 plants grown under eCO 2. Mainly in Sakha 106, eCO 2 induced ascorbate-glutathione (ASC/GSH)-mediated antioxidative defense system. The present study brings the first ever comprehensive assessment of how future eCO 2 differentially mitigated Cr toxicity in rice. [Display omitted] • Cr exposure induces severe oxidative damage and dysregulates mineral homeostasis. • ECO 2 upregulates the expression of mineral transporter genes in Cr-stressed plants. • ECO 2 modulates the antioxidant defense and metal detoxification systems. • Cultivar-specific responses to the coexistence of Cr and eCO 2 will be noticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial for the plant growth under heavy metal stress. Such beneficial effect is improved by elevated CO 2 (eCO 2). However, the mechanisms by which eCO 2 improves AMF symbiotic associations under arsenite (AsIII) toxicity are hardly studied. Herein, we compared these regulatory mechanisms in species from two agronomical important plant families – grasses (wheat) and legumes (soybean). AsIII decreased plant growth (i.e., 53.75 and 60.29% of wheat and soybean, respectively) and photosynthesis. It also increased photorespiration and oxidative injury in both species, but soybean was more sensitive to oxidative stress as indicated by higher H 2 O 2 accumulation and oxidation of protein and lipid. eCO 2 significantly improved AMF colonization by increasing auxin levels, which induced high carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCDs) activity, particularly in soybean roots. The improved sugar metabolism in plant shoots by co-application of eCO 2 and AsIII allocated more sugars to roots sequentially. Sugar accumulation in plant roots is further induced by AMF, resulting in more C skeletons to produce organic acids, which are effectively exudated into the soil to reduce AsIII uptake. Exposure to eCO 2 reduced oxidative damage and this mitigation was stronger in soybean. This could be attributed to a greater reduction in photorespiration as well as a stronger antioxidant and detoxification defence systems. The grass/legume-specificity was supported by principal component analysis, which revealed that soybean was more affected by AsIII stress and more responsive to AMF and eCO 2. This study provided a mechanistic understanding of the impact of AMF, eCO 2 and their interaction on As-stressed grass and legume plants, allowing better practical strategies to mitigate AsIII phytotoxicity. [Display omitted] • Soybean was more sensitive to As stress but more reponsive to AMF and eCO 2 impact. • High strigolactone biosynthesis by eCO 2 induced AMF colonization, mainly in soybean. • Increased photosynthesis by eCO 2 allocated more sugars to AMF roots of soybean and wheat. • eCO 2 increased soil retention resulting in less As accumulation in AMF treated plants. • eCO 2 strengthen AMF impact on decreasing ROS production and increasing their detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]