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Does seed size and surface anatomy play role in combating phytotoxicity of nanoparticles?

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Abstract

Rapid utilization of nano-based products will inevitably release nanoparticles into the environment with unidentified consequences. Plants, being an integral part of ecosystem play a vital role in the incorporation of nanoparticles in food chain and thus, need to be critically assessed. The present study assesses the comparative phytotoxicity of nanoparticle, bulk and ionic forms of zinc at different concentrations on selected plant species with varying seed size and surface anatomy. ZnO nanoparticles were chosen in view of their wide spread use in cosmetics and health care products, which allow their direct release in the environment. The impact on germination rate, shoot & root length and vigour index were evaluated. A concentration dependent inhibition of seed germination as well as seedling length was observed in all the tested plants. Due to the presence of thick cuticle on testa and root, pearl millet (xerophytic plant) was found to be relatively less sensitive to ZnO nanoparticles as compared to wheat and tomato (mesophytic plants) with normal cuticle layer. No correlation was observed between nanoparticles toxicity and seed size. The results indicated that variations in surface anatomy of seeds play a crucial role in determining the phytotoxicity of nanoparticles. The present findings significantly contribute to assess potential consequences of nanoparticle release in environment particularly with major emphasis on plant systems. It is the first report which suggests that variations observed in phytotoxicity of nanoparticles is mainly due to the predominant differences in size and surface anatomy of tested plant seeds and root architecture.

Graphical abstract

Effect of various concentrations of nano ZnO, bulk ZnO and zinc sulphate on the growth of pearl millet (A), tomato (B) and wheat (C) seedlings.

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Acknowledgements

This research work was financially supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India under the National Agricultural Innovation Project scheme (NAIP/C4/C-2032). Facilities provided by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani are gratefully acknowledged. Navin Jain and Arpit Bhargava thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India for providing research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, India

    Navin Jain, Arpit Bhargava, Vikram Pareek & Jitendra Panwar

  2. Department of Botany, Gandhi Faiz-E-Aam College, Shahjahanpur, 242001, India

    Mohd. Sayeed Akhtar

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  1. Navin Jain
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  2. Arpit Bhargava
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  3. Vikram Pareek
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  5. Jitendra Panwar
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Correspondence to Jitendra Panwar.

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Jain, N., Bhargava, A., Pareek, V. et al. Does seed size and surface anatomy play role in combating phytotoxicity of nanoparticles?. Ecotoxicology 26, 238–249 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-017-1758-7

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