Abstract
Agricultural crops are an essential base component of all ecosystems and it is important to assess the impact of nanoparticles on them and the risks involved. In this study we have investigated the impact of the different concentrations (ppm) of citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) ranging from 100 to 400 on physiological and biochemical parameters of the seedlings of Brassica juncea as a model oil crop system. GNPs were synthesized and characterized through Uv-visible spectra and transmission electron microscopy. The qualitative accumulation of GNPs into seedlings of Brassica juncea was ascertained through cyclic voltammetry and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectra (LIBS). Exposure of GNPs caused a decrease in overall growth of Brassica juncea was attributed to increase in free radical stress, supported by a general increase in biomarkers such as antioxidative enzymes, proline and hydrogen peroxide due to the formation of reactive oxygen species.
Highlights
The investigation of risk effects of engineered nanoparticles over ecosystem has recently attracted much attention and it is often concluded that nanoparticles can exert cytotoxicity to animals and plant systems [1,2,3]
Effect of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on the average shoot length (ASL) and Average Root Length (ARL) along with physiological parameters, antioxidant potential, proline and hydrogen peroxide contents in the seedlings of B. juncea was investigated in minimal salt (MS) media under laboratory conditions
The results indicate that free radical-mediated oxidative damage plays an important role in the GNPs induced cellular toxicity in the seedlings of B. juncea with better protection against free radicals by maintaining specific activity ratio of antioxidant enzymes
Summary
The investigation of risk effects of engineered nanoparticles over ecosystem has recently attracted much attention and it is often concluded that nanoparticles can exert cytotoxicity to animals and plant systems [1,2,3]. In this context, there are a few reports on the abiotic stress imposed by the impact of engineered nanoparticles leading to toxicity in plant cells [4,5,6]. The effect of alumina nanoparticles with or without phenanthrene coating reveals that uncoated alumina nanoparticles inhibits root elongation of corn, cucumber, soybean, cabbage and carrot [7]. The seedling of Chilopsis linearis supplemented with mercuric acetate and chloroauric acid in hydroponics have shown reduction in root elongation by 25% and 55% than roots of control seedlings [9]
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