Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41644610›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Methyl jasmonate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and biochar improve maize thermotolerance.

Mona H Soliman, Abdelghafar M Abu-Elsaoud, Ayshah Aysh ALrashidi, Awatif M Abdulmajeed, Aisha A M Alayafi, Taghreed S Alnusaire, Fehmi Boufahja, Suliman M S Alghanem

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Integrated nutrient and plant growth regulator management improves cadmium phytoextraction in Ricinus communis.Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mona H SolimanDepartment of Biology, College of Science in Yanbu, Taibah University, Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. monahsoliman03@gmail.com.
Abdelghafar M Abu-ElsaoudDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), 11623, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ayshah Aysh ALrashidiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hail, 81411, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Awatif M AbdulmajeedBiology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, 46429, Umluj, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Aisha A M AlayafiDepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Taghreed S AlnusaireDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Jouf University, 2014, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Fehmi BoufahjaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), 11623, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Suliman M S AlghanemDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, 52571, Burydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Funding

Deanship of Scientific Research at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) IMSIU-DDRSP2502
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Heat stress is a major abiotic constraint that severely limits maize (Zea mays L.) productivity under changing climate conditions. This study explored a novel integrative strategy to enhance thermotolerance in maize through the combined application of methyl jasmonate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MJNPs) and eucalyptus-derived biochar (EBB). Methyl jasmonate was nano-encapsulated using the ionic gelation method and characterized by SEM, TEM, and FTIR analyses, which confirmed uniform spherical nanoparticles and effective surface functionalization. A greenhouse experiment was conducted under controlled heat stress (40 °C) to evaluate physiological, biochemical, nutrient uptake, yield, and gene expression responses across eight treatments. Relative to non-stressed control plants, heat stress alone reduced plant height by 37%, photosynthetic rate (PN) by 46%, relative water content (RWC) by 25%, and grain number and grain weight by 25% and 6%, respectively. However, the combined MJNPs + biochar treatment under heat stress (HEMN) markedly alleviated these adverse effects. Compared with heat-stressed plants without amendments, HEMN increased plant height by 39%, RWC by 8%, membrane stability index (MSI) by 14%, and PN by 21%. In addition, grain number and seed weight increased by 10% and 6%, respectively, relative to heat-stressed plants, while water-use efficiency (WUE) improved by 13% under the same comparison. Nutrient uptake of phosphorus, magnesium, and iron increased by 15-22% in HEMN-treated plants compared with heat-stressed controls. Gene expression analysis revealed pronounced upregulation of stress-responsive genes, including HSP70, DHN3, and LEA-1, as well as auxin biosynthesis-related genes (TAA1, ZmYUC1, CYP79B2) and aquaporins in HEMN-treated plants relative to heat stress alone, indicating activation of coordinated molecular defense mechanisms. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering of gene-expression heatmaps confirmed strong multivariate associations between enhanced physiological performance and transcriptional activation, supporting the integrated nature of thermotolerance regulation. These findings demonstrate that the synergistic application of MJNPs and biochar significantly enhances maize thermotolerance relative to heat stress alone by improving water relations, nutrient homeostasis, photosynthetic performance, and molecular stress responses. This integrated nano-biochar strategy represents a scalable and environmentally sustainable approach for mitigating climate-induced heat stress and improving crop resilience in future agricultural systems.

Indexed as

AcetatesCharcoalChitosanCyclopentanesNanoparticlesOxylipinsThermotoleranceZea maysGene Expression Regulation, PlantHeat-Shock ResponseAcetatesbiocharCharcoalChitosanCyclopentanesmethyl jasmonateOxylipinsBiocharChitosanGene expressionHeat stressMethyl jasmonate nanoparticlesNanobiostimulantsPhotosynthesisThermotoleranceWater use efficiency

Identifiers

PMID41644610
PMCPMC12923514

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.