Synthesis and characterization of nanoliposome containing Fe2+ element: A superior nano-fertilizer for ferrous iron delivery to sweet basil

Lime-induced Fe- deficient soil causes plant Fe-deficiency, which can be overcome with the foliar application of liposomal Fe fertilizers capable of delivering Fe efficiently to plant tissues. In the current investigation, the effect of foliar fertilization of the Fe-liposome (Fe-L) in two concentrations (2.5 and 5 fold diluted) on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was studied and vegetative growth, the ferrous/total Fe content, and also essential oil constituents were evaluated. In comparison, the FeSO4- EDTA and vehicle (citrate buffer) were used. The experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and three replications. The sweet basil plants were grown in pots with calcareous loamy soil (pH ∼ 7.6, with an appropriate amount of N, K and P) in a greenhouse. Egg-derived phosphatidylcholine (EPC)/Fe-liposomes (200 nm in diameter and monodisperse size distribution) enhanced the fresh and dry weight, increased total leaf area, and improved chlorophyll, ferrous, and essential oil content of the plants compared to the FeSO4 fertilizer. Moreover, methyl chavicol was found to be the primary compound in the essential oil using a gad-chromatogram-mass spectroscopy GC–MS. Overall, the Fe-liposome is a superior fertilizer than FeSO4- EDTA in terms of Fe-delivery and plant recovery.