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

该项目的研究结果将填补知识空白，了解工程纳米材料（ENM）的特点是尺寸小（尺寸小于100纳米）和高活性表面积，与影响其发育和生长的植物相互作用，从而改变生态系统。该项目的目标是开发纳米材料，可以积极提高植物生长，抗病性和作物产量，对环境没有或影响最小。作物的使用（例如，大麦）用于生产纳米颗粒，可用于农业输送养分和农药，将为农民提供更好的农艺工具，以更低的成本投入实现更高效的生产。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和植物性多酚广泛用于医学科学，从长远来看，拟议的研究将有助于更好地提供和治疗材料。两名研究生和一名本科生将在这个跨学科的项目进行培训。在北达科他州农村学校提出的外联方案，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，并帮助他们将这些问题与农业社会问题联系起来（例如，农作物病虫害防治）。预计这些外展计划将激励他们考虑STEM教育和职业。这对北达科他州至关重要，因为该州正在经历STEM学生的下降。为高中化学和生物实验室课程开发的教育材料可以在全国范围内采用，本研究计划的长期目标是阐明ENM诱导的植物先天免疫生理重编程的分子机制，从而增强和损害对微生物病原体的抵抗力。然后使用这些知识来设计保留有益属性的纳米材料（即，肥料和杀真菌剂的输送），同时减轻负面影响。在项目期间，这项跨学科（工程和植物病理学）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。这些知识对于我们设计具有积极属性的农业用途ENM，同时避免对产量、质量以及农业和自然生态系统产生不必要的负面影响的能力至关重要。对纳米材料合成的研究将导致对使用植物提取物，特别是多酚形成ENM的机制的理解。这将进一步导致生态环境管理的发展，这将对植物和其他生态系统组成部分（例如，根际细菌）。因此，该项目的具体目标是：（1）表征响应不同类型ENM的生理重编程的变异性;（2）解决ENM与细胞外基质和/或细胞表面受体复合物相互作用导致非自我感知、引发或抑制免疫反应的机制;以及（3）开发利用植物性多酚和植物性装饰物的纳米材料，以维持或增强积极的生理反应，同时减轻消极反应。

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.