Zn-based root (nano)fertilizers; unravelling the bioavailable chemical species, their route of root uptake and translocation to design more

Crops worldwide have been affected by zinc deficiency. New Zn-Nanomaterials are needed to facilitate a timed and targeted delivery promoting the uptake through the plant rhizosphere and its distribution at the cellular and subcellular level 1,2. In this study we focus on the impact of variable nanoparticles (NPs) surface chemistry and properties (ZnO NPs and surface modified ZnO NPs with Zn3(PO4)2) for Zn root uptake, transport, and distribution in pepper plants. Our preliminary results showed that roots exposed to the two NPs accumulates differently in roots, translocates, and accumulates differently in upper (6th/7th) leaves. We hypothesize that the two NPs types move differently through the root epidermis and transports differently to upper leaves. We propose to analyze roots and upper leaf tissue at different times of exposure, map the subcellular distribution and speciation of Zn, to better understand the mechanisms of uptake, translocation, and transformation inside the plant