An assessment of the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on sugar beet

The effect of foliar application of titanium (Ti) nanoparticles on biochemical, technological, and yield traits of sugar beet was studied in a split-plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at Motahari Research Station, Kamalabad, Karaj, Iran in 2014. Main plot was assigned to foliar application stage (including 12-14, 25-30, and 30-35 leaf stage) and the sub-plots to solution dosage (including four levels of distilled water (control) and foliar application of TiO2 at 100, 300, and 500 mg/L levels). Results showed that TiO2 rate influenced sugar content and white sugar content significantly (p < 0.01) so that the highest sugar content (15.5%) and white sugar content (11.3%) were obtained from 100 and 300 mg/L TiO2 application, showing an improvement of 0.5 and 0.8 units versus control. This effect was independent of foliar application stage. On the other hand, the effect of TiO2 application on root impurities caused a significant increase of 2.5 units in the extraction coefficient of sugar treated with 100 mg/L TiO2. The increase in the rate of TiO2 nanoparticles increased enzyme catalase, leaf soluble protein, and carotenoids and also decreased peroxidase and chlorophyll a and b. Overall, the TiO2 nanoparticles application at 100 mg/L during the growing season can improve the quality of sugar beet corp.