Abolghassem Emamverdian, Li Zhang, Necla Pehlivan, Yang Li, Meisam Zargar
Arsenic contamination threatens agricultural sustainability and food safety. This study evaluated the efficacy of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs), applied individually and in combination, to mitigate arsenic toxicity in dwarf white-striped bamboo ( Pleioblastus pygmaeus ). In vitro experiments exposed bamboo explants to arsenic (0–120 mg L⁻¹) alongside treatments of SiO₂ NPs, TiO₂ NPs, or their combination (100 mg L⁻¹ each). The combined NP treatment was most effective, reducing arsenic accumulation in roots, stems, and leaves by 46%, 48%, and 46%, respectively. This reduction was linked to enhanced phytochelatin synthesis (61%), metal chelation (80%), and proline accumulation (60%). Oxidative stress was alleviated, with decreases in hydrogen peroxide (49%), superoxide radicals (51%), and malondialdehyde (39%), alongside increased activity of antioxidant enzymes and glyoxalase. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) increased by 79–105%, and secondary metabolites (phenolics and flavonoids) rose by 41–42%. These improvements translated to a 54% increase in shoot dry weight and a 44% increase in root dry weight. Nanoparticle applications also reduced arsenic translocation and bioaccumulation factors to 8.5%. This study demonstrates the synergistic potential of SiO₂-TiO₂ nanohybrids to enhance arsenic tolerance in bamboo, offering a promising nano-enabled strategy for sustainable crop protection and phytoremediation. • Silica-titania nanoparticles reduce arsenic uptake in bamboo by 46%. • Nanoparticles enhance antioxidant defense and stress detoxification pathways. • Treatment boosts photosynthetic pigments and biomass under arsenic stress. • Phytochelatin and proline levels rise by 61% and 73% for detoxification. • Combined nanoparticles decrease arsenic translocation to shoots by 8.5%.