Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
BackgroundNanoparticles are produced and used worldwide and are released to the environment, e.g., into soil systems. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cerium dioxide (CeO2) NPs are among the ten most produced NPs and it is therefore important to test, whether these NPs affect plants and symbiotic microorganisms that help plants to acquire nutrients. In this part of a joint companion study, we spiked an agricultural soil with TiO2 NPs, multi walled CNTs (MWCNTs), and CeO2 NPs and we examined effects of these NP on red clover, biological nitrogen fixation by rhizobia and on root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We also tested whether effects depended on the concentrations of the applied NPs.ResultsPlant biomass and AMF root colonization were not negatively affected by NP exposure. The number of flowers was statistically lower in pots treated with 3 mg kg−1 MWCNT, and nitrogen fixation slightly increased at 3000 mg kg−1 MWCNT.ConclusionsThis study revealed that red clover was more sensitive to MWCNTs than TiO2 and CeO2 NPs. Further studies are necessary for finding general patterns and investigating mechanisms behind the effects of NPs on plants and plant symbionts.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12951-016-0188-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Nanoparticles are produced and used worldwide and are released to the environment, e.g., into soil systems
We investigated the effects of three different NP types, i.e., TiO2 NPs, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) (MWCNTs) and cerium dioxide (CeO2) NPs, on red clover growth, biological nitrogen fixation with rhizobia and on root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in a soil system
Red clover plants were exposed for 14 weeks to agricultural soil spiked with different concentrations of NPs, i.e., TiO2 NPs (P25), a bigger non-nanomaterial
Summary
Nanoparticles are produced and used worldwide and are released to the environment, e.g., into soil systems. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cerium dioxide (CeO2) NPs are among the ten most produced NPs and it is important to test, whether these NPs affect plants and symbiotic microorganisms that help plants to acquire nutrients. One NP type that needs special attention regarding risk assessment in soils is TiO2 because these NPs are listed in patents and publications targeted as additives of plant protection products [3, 4]. If such products were released to the market and applied in the fields, higher concentrations of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
