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Influence of α- and γ-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Physiology and Fruit Quality

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Abstract

Iron deficiency has been becoming a worldwide problem in crop cultivation. New approaches are desired to alleviate the iron-deficit chlorosis. Iron-containing nanomaterials could be effective to supply the iron to plants and promote plant growth. In this study, soil cultured watermelon plants were treated with 100, 200, and 400 ppm α- and γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs), respectively. Growth and physiology parameters were investigated in a period of time. The study also evaluated the nutritional quality of watermelon fruit. Results showed that no elevation of plant growth or chlorophyll content was observed. All α- and γ-Fe2O3 NPs treatments had no positive influence on nutritional components including central and edge sugar content, and total amino acid content. An interesting result was that the vitamin C (VC) content of all NP treatments was significantly improved compared with the control group (without iron). In addition, we found that iron distribution of α- and γ-Fe2O3 NPs treatments was closely related to the concentrations of NPs. Both α- and γ-Fe2O3 NPs could accumulate in root, stem, and leaf of watermelon plants, but only 400 ppm γ-Fe2O3 NPs treatment was found to exist in watermelon fruit. Although no promotion of α- and γ-Fe2O3 NPs on the growth of watermelon plants was occurred, our results showed that both α- and γ-Fe2O3 NPs could enter plant roots and translocate upwards to other tissues. Our finds will provide data for the future applications of iron-containing nanomaterials in agricultural production.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2018YFD0201300 and 2018YFD0100704); China Agriculture Research System (Grant No. CARS-25); and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant Nos. 2019IB005, 2018IB021, 2018IB023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Sciences, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Junli Li, Fengting Wan, Wenjing Guo & Jiali Huang

  2. Institute of Economic Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Science, Wuhan, 430064, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaoyi Dai, Licong Yi & Yunqiang Wang

  3. Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Genetic Improvement Key Laboratory of Hubei Province, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sience, Wuhan, 430064, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaoyi Dai, Licong Yi & Yunqiang Wang

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  1. Junli Li
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  2. Fengting Wan
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  3. Wenjing Guo
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  4. Jiali Huang
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  5. Zhaoyi Dai
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  7. Yunqiang Wang
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Contributions

Junli Li put forward the experimental idea and organized the experiment, and finally completed the manuscript. Fengting Wan, Jiali Huang, and Wenjing Guo completed most of the experiments and organized the manuscripts. Zhaoyi Dai and Licong Yi were responsible for field management, and Yunqiang Wang provided experimental materials and the experimental site in the field, as well as daily management. All authors contributed to the preparation of the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Junli Li or Yunqiang Wang.

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Highlights

• Effects of α- and γ-Fe2O3 NPs on the whole growth period of watermelon were evaluated.

• γ-Fe2O3 NPs exhibited more phytotoxicity than α-Fe2O3 NPs.

• VC content of fruit was increased in all treatments.

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Li, J., Wan, F., Guo, W. et al. Influence of α- and γ-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Physiology and Fruit Quality. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 143 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04511-3

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