Plant-Engineered Nanomaterial interactions: Induced Physiological Reprogramming of Innate Immunity and Prolific Growth in Plants

这个项目的发现将填补理解工程纳米材料（enm）的知识空白，这种材料的特点是小尺寸（尺寸小于100纳米）和高活性表面积，与植物相互作用，影响它们的发育和生长，从而可能改变生态系统。该项目的目标是开发能够积极促进植物生长、抗病性和作物产量而对环境没有或最小影响的纳米材料。利用作物（例如大麦）生产可用于农业的纳米颗粒，以提供营养和杀虫剂，将为农民提供更好的农具，以更少的成本投入提高生产效率。研究结果将解决一些工程上的重大挑战（氮循环、更好的药物和清洁的水），因为这里开发的enm也可以用于环境清理和药物输送。enm和植物性多酚广泛应用于医学科学，从长远来看，该研究将有助于更好的递送和治疗材料。该跨学科项目将培养两名研究生和一名本科生。在北达科他州农村学校提出的外展计划，重点是接触女学生，将扩大这些学生对科学的参与，使他们了解科学与技术之间的关系，并帮助他们将这些与农业社会问题联系起来。（作物病虫害防治）。外展项目有望激励他们考虑STEM教育和职业。这对北达科他州来说至关重要，因为该州正在经历STEM学生的下降。为高中化学和生物实验课编写的教材可以在全国乃至世界范围内使用。本研究计划的长期目标是阐明ENM诱导植物先天免疫生理重编程的分子机制，从而增强和降低对微生物病原体的抗性。然后利用这些知识来设计纳米材料，使其保留有益的属性（即肥料和杀菌剂的输送），同时减轻负面影响。在项目期间，这个跨学科（工程和植物病理学）的研究将解决与粮食安全直接相关的问题。该项目将阐明决定纳米材料与植物相互作用的分子机制。这方面的知识对于我们设计农业用的能源管理系统的能力至关重要，这些能源管理系统具有积极的属性，同时避免对产量、质量、农业和自然生态系统产生不必要的负面影响。对纳米材料合成的研究将有助于理解利用植物提取物，特别是多酚形成ENM的机制。这将进一步导致enm的发展，这将对植物和其他生态系统成分（例如，根际细菌）有多重好处。因此，该项目的具体目标是：(1)表征生理重编程对不同类型enm的响应的可变性；(2)解决ENMs与细胞外基质和/或细胞表面受体复合物相互作用的机制，导致非自我感知，引发或抑制免疫反应；(3)利用植物多酚和植物修饰开发纳米材料，以维持或增强积极的生理反应，同时减轻负面反应。

The findings from this project will fill knowledge gaps in the understanding of how engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), which are characterized by small size (dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers) and highly reactive surface areas, interact with plants affecting their development and growth, thus could alter ecosystems. The goal of this project is to develop nanomaterials which can positively enhance plant growth, disease resistance, and crop yields with no or minimal impacts on the environment. Use of crops (e.g., barley) for nanoparticle production that can be used in agriculture to deliver nutrients and pesticides will provide farmers with better agronomic tools for more efficient production with less cost inputs. The research findings will address some of the engineering grand challenges (nitrogen cycling, better medicine, and clean water) as the ENMs developed here can also be used in environmental clean-up and drug delivery. ENMs and plant-borne polyphenols are extensively used in medical science and the proposed research will contribute to better delivery and curative materials in the long run. Two graduate students and one undergraduate student will be trained in this interdisciplinary project. The outreach programs proposed in rural North Dakota schools, with a focus on reaching female students, will broaden these students' participation in science providing them with an understanding of the relationship between science and technology as well as help them relate these to the agri-based societal issues (e,g., pest control in crops). The outreach programs are expected to inspire them to consider STEM education and careers. This is of paramount importance for North Dakota as the state is experiencing decline in STEM students. The educational materials developed for high school chemistry and biology laboratory classes can be adopted across the country and beyond.The long-term goals of this research proposal are to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ENM induced physiological reprogramming of plant innate immunity that results in both enhanced and compromised resistance to microbial pathogens. Then use this knowledge to engineer nanomaterial that retain beneficial attributes (i.e., fertilizer and fungicide delivery) while mitigating negative impacts. Within the project period, this interdisciplinary (Engineering and Plant Pathology) research will address issues immediately related to food security. The project will elucidate the molecular mechanisms that determine the interactions of nanomaterials with plants. This knowledge is pivotal in our ability to engineer ENMs for agricultural uses that have positive attributes while evading unwanted negative impacts on yield, quality, and agricultural- and natural-ecosystems. The research proposed on nanomaterial synthesis will lead to the understanding of the mechanism of ENM formation using plant extracts, specifically polyphenols. It will further lead to the development of ENMs, which will have multiple benefits to plants and other ecosystem components (e.g., rhizosphere bacteria). Thus, the specific goals of the project are: (1) characterize the variability of physiological reprogramming in response to different classes of ENMs; (2) resolve the mechanisms by which ENMs interact with the extracellular matrix and/or cell surface receptor complexes resulting in the perception of non-self, eliciting or suppressing immunity responses; and (3) develop nanomaterials utilizing plant-borne polyphenols and plant-based decorations to maintain or enhance positive physiological responses while mitigating negative responses.