1
Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Botany Section, School of Sciences, Hyderabad, India
2
Kafkas University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Civil Engineering, Kars
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is a pervasive phytotoxic air pollutant that impairs plant productivity and weakens vegetation-mediated air purification functions. This study investigated the potential of engineered nano-biochar (NBC) to mitigate O₃-induced stress while enhancing the air-purifying capacity of plants. Brassica juncea plants were exposed to chronic O₃ stress (80 ppb, 8 h day⁻¹ for 14 days) following soil application of nano-biochar. Photosynthetic performance, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative stress markers, stomatal conductance, particulate matter deposition, and volatile organic compound (VOC) adsorption were systematically evaluated. O₃ exposure markedly reduced net photosynthetic rate and PSII efficiency, accompanied by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased lipid peroxidation, and enhanced membrane damage. Soil-applied nano-biochar significantly alleviated O₃-induced phytotoxicity by restoring photosynthetic efficiency, maintaining stomatal regulation, and reducing oxidative stress. NBC treatment substantially enhanced antioxidant defense systems, as evidenced by elevated activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase, leading to effective ROS scavenging. Additionally, nano-biochar improved plant biomass accumulation and preserved chlorophyll content under O₃ stress. Importantly, nano-biochar application enhanced vegetation-based air purification by increasing leaf-level ozone uptake efficiency, particulate matter (PM₂.₅) retention, and VOC adsorption capacity. Multivariate analyses further confirmed that NBC-treated plants under ozone stress clustered closely with control plants, highlighting the strong protective and restorative role of nano-biochar. Overall, the findings demonstrate that nano-biochar is an effective soil-mediated strategy to confer ozone stress tolerance while simultaneously enhancing plant-based air purification, underscoring its potential application in climate-resilient and pollution-mitigating green infrastructure.
Keywords
Air purification,ozone stress,carbon-based nanomaterials,antioxidant defense
How to Cite
FAIZAN , M., & ÇELİKTEN, H. (2026). Mitigation of Ozone (O₃) Effects and Enhanced Air-Purifying Capacity of Plants by Carbon-Based Nanomaterials. MAS Journal of Applied Sciences, 11(1), 168–180. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19127754
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Hakan ÇELİKTEN
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