Titanium (Ti) is a very interesting chemical element, especially physiologically. Although Ti is not toxic for animals and humans, its effects on plants show remarkable concentration dependence. Whereas for plants, it shows beneficial effects on various physiological parameters at low doses. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bulk and nanoparticles titanium foliar. Application on some agronomic traits, seed gluten and starch contents of wheat under water deficit stress conditions during 2010-2011 growing seasons. The experimental design was randomized in complete blocks arranged in split-split plots with four replications. The factors included normal irrigation, water deficit stress (irrigation withholding at two growing stages of stem elongation and flowering), two growing stages for water deficit stress induction and titanium applications, five titanium concentrations, sources including control of titanium oxide (bulk), and three concentrations of 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.03% of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Plant height, ear weight, ear number, seed number, 1000-seed weight, final yield, biomass, harvest index, gluten, and starch contents were assayed. The results showed that water deficit stress caused significant decrease in plant growth, yield and yield components. In addition, among the different titanium treatments, titanium dioxide nanoparticles at 0.02% increased almost all agronomic traits including gluten and starch content. Thus, the application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles under conditions of water deficit stress is recommended.

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Influence of Bulk and Nanoparticles Titanium Foliar Application on some Agronomic Traits, Seed Gluten and Starch Contents of Wheat Subjected to Water Deficit Stress

Bioinorganic chemistry of titanium.

Titanium (Ti) is considered a beneficial element for plant growth. Ti applied via roots or leaves at low concentrations has been documented to improve crop performance through stimulating the activity of certain enzymes, enhancing chlorophyll content and photosynthesis, promoting nutrient uptake, strengthening stress tolerance, and improving crop yield and quality. Commercial fertilizers containing Ti, such as Tytanit and Mg-Titanit, have been used as biostimulants for improving crop production; however, mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects still remain unclear. In this article, we propose that the beneficial roles Ti plays in plants lie in its interaction with other nutrient elements primarily iron (Fe). Fe and Ti have synergistic and antagonistic relationships. When plants experience Fe deficiency, Ti helps induce the expression of genes related to Fe acquisition, thereby enhancing Fe uptake and utilization and subsequently improving plant growth. Plants may have proteins that either specifically or nonspecifically bind with Ti. When Ti concentration is high in plants, Ti competes with Fe for ligands or proteins. The competition could be severe, resulting in Ti phytotoxicity. As a result, the beneficial effects of Ti become more pronounced during the time when plants experience low or deficient Fe supply.

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Titanium as a Beneficial Element for Crop Production

The biological effects of titanium (Ti) in the form of Ti(IV)-ascorbate on oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Zlatak) were studied in hydroponic experiments on defined nutrient solutions, determining the influence (i) of the chemical form of nitrogen (N) in nutrient solution on the Ti effects on plants (nitrate and an ammonium salt (acetate) were the only N species used) and (ii) of various Ti concentrations in nutrient solution while changing the magnesium (Mg) concentration on the Ti, Mg, iron (Fe), and potassium (K) content in tops and roots, top and root dry weights, chlorophyll a and b content, top height, and root length. It was found that (i) Ti was beneficial for plants grown on the nitrate-containing nutrient solutions as compared to the ammonium-containing nutrient solutions where Ti results in inhibitory effects on plant health status (decrease of top and root dry weights, chlorophyll a and b contents, top height, and root length), therefore, it was deducted that the increase of nitrate reductase activi...

J.C. Dumon

Papers

Titanium in Plants