Physio-biochemical and ultrastructural impact of (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on tobacco

Rami Alkhatib,Laith Al-Eitan,Rebecca Creamer,Batool Alkhatib,Nour Abdo

doi:10.1186/s12870-019-1864-1

Abstract

BackgroundBecause of their broad applications in our life, nanoparticles are expected to be present in the environment raising many concerns about their possible adverse effects on the ecosystem of plants. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different sizes and concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticles [(Fe3O4) NPs] on morphological, physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural parameters in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var.2 Turkish).ResultsLengths of shoots and roots of 5 nm-treated plants were significantly decreased in all nanoparticle-treated plants compared to control plants or plants treated with any concentration of 10 or 20 nm nanoparticles. The photosynthetic rate and leaf area were drastically reduced in 5 nm (Fe3O4) NP-treated plants of all concentrations compared to control plants and plants treated with 10 or 20 nm (Fe3O4) NPs. Accumulation of sugars in leaves showed no significant differences between the control plants and plants treated with iron oxide of all sizes and concentrations. In contrast, protein accumulation in plants treated with 5 nm iron oxide dramatically increased compared to control plants. Moreover, light and transmission electron micrographs of roots and leaves revealed that roots and chloroplasts of 5 nm (Fe3O4) NPs-treated plants of all concentrations were drastically affected.ConclusionsThe size and concentration of nanoparticles are key factors affecting plant growth and development. The results of this study demonstrated that the toxicity of (Fe3O4) NPs was clearly influenced by size and concentration. Further investigations are needed to elucidate more about NP toxicity in plants, especially at the molecular level.

Highlights

Because of their broad applications in our life, nanoparticles are expected to be present in the environment raising many concerns about their possible adverse effects on the ecosystem of plants
The leaf area of plants treated with 5 nm iron oxide was significantly reduced compared to all other treated and control plants and showed some leaf chlorosis
The leaf area increased in plants treated with 20 nm iron oxide (Fig. 2e and f )

Summary

Introduction

Because of their broad applications in our life, nanoparticles are expected to be present in the environment raising many concerns about their possible adverse effects on the ecosystem of plants. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different sizes and concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticles [(Fe3O4) NPs] on morphological, physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural parameters in tobacco Nanoparticles are widely used in many industrial, commercial, environment, agriculture, and biomedical sectors [1, 2] Their utility is based on their constant physical properties, which is strictly dependent on their size, which varies from 1 to 100 nm [3, 4]. Plants are primary producers and play major roles in the Nanoparticles (NPs) interact with plants causing several morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, which depends on properties of nanoparticles, including concentration, size, and their physical properties, as well as the plant species tested [6]. In corn (Zea mays L.), γ-Fe2O3 NPs (particle size 17.7 ± 3.9 nm) at 20 mg/L under hydroponic conditions significantly promoted root elongation, while 50 and 100 mg/ L γ-Fe2O3 NPs significantly decreased root length, indicating that the impact of NPs on plants

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