Vacuum infiltration for priming of soybean seeds: optimization and particle tracking using fluorescent silica nanoparticles

Abstract

Agrochemical delivery is highly inefficient, and novel application methods are necessary to promote crop health and yields while reducing environmental impact. In this work, a vacuum infiltration seed priming strategy was developed to incorporate silica nanoparticles into soybeans. Although successful in initial greenhouse and field studies, little is known about the amount of nutrient being delivered and the conditions for optimum accumulation. Herein, various infiltration conditions were evaluated using fluorescent silica nanoparticles and confocal microscopy, including nanoparticle surface charge and concentration, infiltration time, infiltrate ionic strength and pH, and seed presoaking. Negative nanoparticle surface charge, higher nanoparticle concentration, shorter infiltration time, and potassium-based salts resulted in greater nanoparticle infiltration. Seed coat elemental analysis complemented fluorescence data and highlighted the co-delivery of beneficial macronutrients including potassium and magnesium under ionic salt infiltration conditions. Overall, these findings illustrate a new strategy to biofortify nanoscale nutrients into soybean seeds that can be expanded into other agrochemical targets and crop species to promote sustainable agriculture.

Graphical abstract: Vacuum infiltration for priming of soybean seeds: optimization and particle tracking using fluorescent silica nanoparticles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
18 Dec 2024
Accepted
03 Mar 2025
First published
18 Mar 2025
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2025, Advance Article

Vacuum infiltration for priming of soybean seeds: optimization and particle tracking using fluorescent silica nanoparticles

T. L. O'Keefe, B. Tuga, C. Deng, S. Mohamud, R. Jamous, M. A. Sanders, W. H. Elmer, J. C. White and C. L. Haynes, Chem. Sci., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4SC08566C

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