Cerium-coated Fe3O4 nanocomposite enhances salt stress tolerance in maize by modulating photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defense, and cellular ultrastructure

Introduction: Soil salinity, characterized by excessive soluble salts in the root zone, affects over 950 million hectares globally and continues to expand due to climate change, seawater intrusion, and unsustainable agricultural practices. High salinity imposes osmotic and ionic stress on plants, disrupting water and nutrient uptake, inducing ion imbalance, and triggering excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which leads to oxidative damage and impaired plant growth. Nanotechnology is an emerging strategy for enhancing plant stress tolerance, and combining nanomaterials with complementary properties offers a promising approach to improve plant resilience under such conditions. Methods: @Ce) nanocomposites (NCs) applied at different concentrations to mitigate salt stress in maize. Seedlings were subjected to 150 mM NaCl and treated with foliar-applied NCs. Growth parameters, photosynthesis, oxidative stress markers, ion homeostasis, and ultrastructural changes were analyzed. Results and Discussion: @Ce nanocomposites mitigate salt stress through coordinated regulation of antioxidant defense, ion balance, and cellular structure, highlighting their potential as an eco-friendly strategy for enhancing crop resilience.