Physiological and biochemical response of soil-grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to cerium oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

A soil microcosm study was performed to examine the impacts of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) on the physiology, productivity, and macromolecular composition of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The plants were cultivated in soil treated with nCeO2 at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg kg(-1) (control, nCeO2-L, nCeO2-M, and nCeO2-H, respectively). Accumulation of Ce in leaves/grains and its effects on plant stress and nutrient loading were analyzed. The data revealed that nCeO2-H promoted plant development resulting in 331 % increase in shoot biomass compared with the control. nCeO2 treatment modified the stress levels in leaves without apparent signs of toxicity. However, plants exposed to nCeO2-H treatment did not form grains. Compared with control, nCeO2-M enhanced grain Ce accumulation by as much as 294 % which was accompanied by remarkable increases in P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Al. Likewise, nCeO2-M enhanced the methionine, aspartic acid, threonine, tyrosine, arginine, and linolenic acid contents in the grains by up to 617, 31, 58, 141, 378, and 2.47 % respectively, compared with the rest of the treatments. The findings illustrate the beneficial and harmful effects of nanoceria in barley.

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Graphene oxide and indole-3-acetic acid cotreatment regulates the root growth of Brassica napus L. via multiple phytohormone pathways

“…The accumulation of nanomaterials in plants has been shown to increase the shoot length, chlorophyll b content, number of adventitious roots, and fresh root weight of rice seedlings [13]. A 500 mg/kg CeO 2 treatment was shown to increase the plant height, chlorophyll content, and biomass of barley without any toxic effects [14]. GO treatments decreased the damage caused by Cu stress by neutralizing the effects of Cu on nutrient accumulation in Lemna minor [3], and TiO 2 nanoparticles have been reported to improve phosphorus uptake and improving plant growth [15].…”

Lessons learned: Are engineered nanomaterials toxic to terrestrial plants?

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