The Impact Assessment of CuO Nanoparticles on the Composition and Ultrastructure of Triticum aestivum L.

Abstract

In the present study, the effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on bioactive compounds, the ultrastructural modifications which can occur, and elemental content of wheat were investigated. Changes in the wheat plants grown in presence or absence of CuO NPs were estimated. The application of CuO NPs decreased the amounts of chlorophylls and carotenoids and increased the amounts of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the plants treated with CuO NPs were negatively affected. Soil amending completely inhibited the accumulation of seventeen elements, while K, Br, Al, and Zn were accumulated and Cl, Na, Ba, and Sr content decreased in wheat samples, regardless of the type of NPs applied. The application of chemically obtained NPs induced the most significant changes, completely blocking the assimilation of Fe, Mo, As, Sb, and Sm, and favoring much higher accumulation of Br than biogenic NPs. The decrease in chlorophylls and carotenoids is correlated with increase in antioxidant capacity, and occurs with increase of Mo, Al, Mg, K, Zn, and Ca content. The behavior of total polyphenols is correlated with Br content, and antagonist to Al behavior. From the point of view of bioactive compounds, the most affected plants were those that grew in the presence of CuO-NP-cel, while from the point of view of elementary analysis, the most affected plants were those grown in the presence of CuO-NP. By corroborating the obtained results, it was found that the CuO NPs have a negative effect on wheat plants.

The Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Composition and Ultrastructure of Wheat

“…As can be observed in Figure 10, the significant decrease of TP, CHL a, CHL b, and CARO is accompanied by the decline of Na, Mn, Fe, As, Sr, Sb, and Ba content, while an increase of DPPH correlates with enrichment in K, Zn, Br, and Mo. A similar behavior for K and Zn in relation to all biologically active parameters was previously reported when wheat plants were grown in soil amended with different types of CuO NPs [27]. The addition of CuO NPs and TiO 2 NPs results in the same correlation between most of the elements common to the two experiments (Na, Fe, As, Sr, Sb, Ba, and Mo) and CHL a, CHL b, and DPPH.…”

“…In order to study and present the data, exploratory analysis methods were used within which two parameters were determined, namely mobility ratio of the elements from soil to plant [27] and mobility factor of the elements in soil substrate (τ i ) [28].…”

“…The wheat leaves and roots were prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis immediately after harvest. The samples were prepared according to Lung et al [27].…”

“…Neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the pulsed fast reactor IBR-2 (FLNP JINR, Dubna, Russia) was used to determine the elemental content of the wheat biomass and soil substrate. The method of the elemental content determination was performed according to Lung et al [27]. Certified standards were used for the analysis: trace elements in soil (2709), pine needles (1575a), calcareous soil (690CC), marine sediment (433), and trace elements in coal (1632c).…”

CuO-NPs Improve Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds in Lettuce

“…The results indicate that CuO-NPs can be used as an agent that increases these photosynthetic compounds, which benefits the plant by participating as a coenzyme in enzyme systems involved in the formation [ 13 ] and conversion of amino acids, as well as in the detoxification of superoxide radicals. In addition, this allows them to form lignin in the cell walls [ 36 ], providing support to the vertical position in the plants, likewise, this allows them to interact in the formation of viable pollen, seed formation, and resistance to stress [ 37 ]. The vitamin C in lettuce was not affected by the concentrations of CuO-NPs used; however, the highest concentration of vitamin C corresponded to those lettuces treated with 6 mg mL −1 of CuO-NPs, this concentration is 53% higher than the control treatment.…”