Effect of Different Nanoparticles on Banana (Musa Spp. L.) Genotypes Under Drought Conditions With Its Molecular Characterization and in-silico Study of Drought Related Genes

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of zinc oxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles on four banana genotypes viz. Red banana, Monthan, Grand Naine, and Elakkibale under drought conditions and to study drought-related genes in banana using bioinformatics tools. Four different concentrations of BAP and IAA (2 mg/l BAP,3 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA and 4 mg/l BAP + 1 mg/l IAA and 5 mg/l BAP + 1.5 mg/l IAA) hormones for shoot initiation were used to generate banana plantlets from micropropagation. Results showed that treatment 3 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA was the best in all parameters. Three different concentrations (200 ppm/l, 400 ppm/l and 600 ppm/l) of both nanoparticles were taken to study their effect on banana plants obtained from micropropagation under drought stress in experimental field. The morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular parameters were studied to assess the effect of both the nanoparticles. Result of both average morpho-physiological parameters (Leaf area, plant height, specific leaf weight, leaf water retention capacity, relative water content, turgid weight and membrane stability index) and biochemical parameters (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, proline content, protein content, malondialdehyde content, SOD, POD, CAT, and Glutathione reductase activity) showed that zinc oxide nanoparticle with 400 ppm/l under drought conditions treatment was the best application of nanoparticle on all banana genotypes under drought stress. Whereas, molecular assessment of nanoparticle application using ten SSR marker showed changes in DNA which were reflected by the dendrogram constructed by scoring presence and absence of bands. It could be concluded that DNA changes were affected by the application of zinc and silicon nanoparticles on banana (Musa sp.) under drought conditions. Three drought genes viz., Aquaporins, calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA), and copper chaperone superoxide dismutase (CCS) genes were selected for in-silico analysis. Results of in-silico analysis showed that there are some differences and similarities in the sequence of banana genes and other plants which indicated there must be some environmental factors responsible for the dissimilarities although all genes perform similar functions in all plants. Also predicted protein structures showed that they have some special characteristics which help them to protect plants during stress conditions. Therefore, the study of these three genes is important for combating the negative effects of drought stress.