Abstract
With a continuous increase in the production and use in everyday life applications of engineered nanomaterials, concerns have appeared in the past decades related to their possible environmental toxicity and impact on edible plants (and therefore, upon human health). Soybean is one of the most commercially-important crop plants, and a perfect model for nanomaterials accumulation studies, due to its high biomass production and ease of cultivation. In this review, we aim to summarize the most recent research data concerning the impact of engineered nanomaterials on the soya bean, covering both inorganic (metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles) and organic (carbon-based) nanomaterials. The interactions between soybean plants and engineered nanomaterials are discussed in terms of positive and negative impacts on growth and production, metabolism and influences on the root-associated microbiota. Current data clearly suggests that under specific conditions, nanomaterials can negatively influence the development and metabolism of soybean plants. Moreover, in some cases, a possible risk of trophic transfer and transgenerational impact of engineered nanomaterials are suggested. Therefore, comprehensive risk-assessment studies should be carried out prior to any mass productions of potentially hazardous materials.
Highlights
Nanotechnology, together with molecular biology and information technology, has brought new insights into the understanding of our life on Earth [1]
This study showed that a fraction of CeO2 NPs and Zn2+ ions reached the reproductive/edible portion of the soybean plant, suggesting that CeO2 NPs can potentially reach the food chain and the plant generation [88]
While most of the aforementioned studies evaluated the effect on plant growth, a later study from the same groups aimed to evaluate the effects of CeO2 (8 nm) and ZnO NPs (10 nm) on the metabolism of the soybean in terms of chlorophyll production, protein content of seeds, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and genotoxicity [91]
Summary
Nanotechnology, together with molecular biology and information technology, has brought new insights into the understanding of our life on Earth [1] Products of nanotechnology, such as engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), are one of the new and exciting discoveries of the past century. The sequencing of its full genome has opened new possibilities in terms of the crop improvements needed for human and animal food production [15]. In this context, it is important in addition to evaluate the abiotic factors which may interact with the growth and yield of this crop. Finding the optimal conditions where ENM exposure is non-toxic, or even beneficial to plants, can play an important role in a future sustainable quality food production
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