Scientists have proposed a way to overcome hidden hunger

MOSCOW, November 30. SFU scientists as part of an international team proposed using zinc nanoparticles as microfertilizers to enrich plants. According to them, this will increase the nutritional value of products and protect people's health from problems associated with a lack of this essential microelement. The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark.
As noted by the university, zinc (Zn) plays a critical role in the human body and, after iron, is the second most abundant and important trace element. Its deficiency (hypocincosis) can be manifested by decreased immunity, pathological hair loss, dermatitis, sleep disturbances and a number of other symptoms that reduce the quality of life.
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Researchers from the Southern Federal University (SFU) have proposed a method for enriching vegetables and cereal crops with zinc using nanoparticles (a method involving the use of nanomaterials to increase seed productivity and early plant growth).
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“In our case, nano-sized zinc particles were applied to the seeds. This not only had a positive effect on seed germination, but also increased the absorption of zinc from plant foods. Only about 30% of the zinc contained in food is absorbed. At the same time, zinc is absorbed worse from plant foods than from animal foods,” said Tatyana Minkina, head of the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Assessment at SFU.

She added that to increase the efficiency of plant nutrition with zinc, the method of foliar feeding was used, that is, direct spraying of nutrient solutions on plant leaves. In this case, nutrients are delivered directly to the plant’s vascular system, which ensures their further rapid absorption.

Scientists have recorded that the introduction of nano-sized zinc particles into the soil leads to a significant increase in the content of this microelement in various crops. Thus, the concentration of Zn in brown rice is 13.5–39.4% higher than in untreated plants. The results also showed that nanozinc significantly improved the bioavailability of the trace element in harvested cultures, meaning it could be better absorbed by humans.

«The results obtained not only show the high potential of nanotechnology in agriculture, but also offer promising solving a global health problem. Our research opens up new opportunities for the development of sustainable and effective strategies to combat nutritional deficiencies on a global scale,» explained Minkina.
Further tasks of the research team are to scale up research from controlled laboratory to field conditions.
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The research was carried out as part of the implementation of the state program for supporting universities «Priority 2030» of the national project «Science and Universities».