Alleviation of salt stress damages by chalcone-based nanocomposite in lettuce plants

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chalcone-based nanocomposite in various concentrations on lettuce plants under salinity treatment. The composite was synthesized by chemical methods with a mean particle size of 89.4 ± 4.2 nm. The factors consisted of salinity concentrations of 100, 125, and 150 mmol/l and nanocomposite concentrations of 0.1 and 0.01 ppm. After harvest, different physiological and biochemical characteristics were measured. The results indicated that the nanocomposite significantly increased the fresh and dry weight of roots and glycine betaine in the lettuce plants at higher salinity stress conditions (150 mmol/l). Contrarily, the nanocomposite significantly reduced malondialdehyde at the salinity stress conditions. Also, the nanocomposite caused a significant increase in total flavonoid content under the salinity stress conditions of 150 mmol/l and activity of ascorbate peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme, at the salt concentration of 150 mmol/l. It can be concluded that chalcone-based nanocomposite may ameliorate the negative effects of the salinity stress on plants.