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Effect of silver nanoparticles on concentration of silver heavy element and growth indexes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. negeen)

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Abstract

The tremendous progress on nanoparticle research area has been made significant effects on the economy, society, and the environment. Silver nanoparticle is one of the most important particles in these categories. Silver nanoparticles can be converted to the heavy silver metal in water by oxidation. Moreover, in the high amounts of silver concentration, they will be accumulated in different parts of the plant. However, by changing the morphology of the plant, the production will be harmful for human consumptions. In this study, nano-powders with average 50 nm silver particles are mixed with deionized distilled water in a completely randomized design. Seven treatments with various concentrations of suspension silver nanoparticles were prepared and repeated in four different parts of the plant in a regular program of spraying. Samples were analyzed to study the growth indexes and concentration of silver in different parts of the plant. It was observed that with increasing concentration of silver nanoparticles on cucumber, the growth indexes (except pH fruit), and the concentration of silver heavy metal are increased significantly. The incremental concentration had the linear relationship with correlation coefficient 0.95 and an average of 0.617 PPM by increasing of each unit in one thousand concentration of nanosilver. Although, by increasing concentration of silver nanoparticles as spraying form, the plant morphological characteristics were improved, the concentration of silver heavy metal in various plant organs was increased. These results open a new pathway to consider the effect of nanoparticles on plant’s productions for human consumptions.

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Acknowledgments

The results of this article are obtained from the research plan entitle: “The effect of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles on concentration of silver heavy element in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. negeen).” Financial grant was supported by research center, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran. The authors are grateful to Professor Eskandari and Mrs. Mallahi from Islamic Azad University-Shiraz branch, Dr. Feizi from Ferdowsi University Mashhad, and Dr. Mojtaba Ranjbar from Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at National University of Singapore for their help and valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

    Gholamabbas Shams & Morteza Ranjbar

  2. Department of Chemistry, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

    Aliasghar Amiri

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  1. Gholamabbas Shams
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  2. Morteza Ranjbar
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  3. Aliasghar Amiri
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Correspondence to Gholamabbas Shams.

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Shams, G., Ranjbar, M. & Amiri, A. Effect of silver nanoparticles on concentration of silver heavy element and growth indexes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. negeen). J Nanopart Res 15, 1630 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1630-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1630-5

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