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Bioavailability of Zn in ZnO nanoparticle-spiked soil and the implications to maize plants

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Abstract

Little is known about the relationships between Zn bioavailability in ZnO nanoparticle (NP)-spiked soil and the implications to crops. The present pot culture experiment studied Zn bioavailability in soil spiked with different doses of ZnO NPs, using the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction method, as well as the toxicity and Zn accumulation in maize plants. Results showed that ZnO NPs exerted dose-dependent effects on maize growth and nutrition, photosynthetic pigments, and root activity (dehydrogenase), ranging from stimulatory (100–200 mg/kg) through to neutral (400 mg/kg) and toxic effect (800–3200 mg/kg). Both Zn concentration in shoots and roots correlated positively (P < 0.01) with ZnO NPs dose and soil DTPA-extractable Zn concentration. The BCF of Zn in shoots and roots ranged from 1.02 to 3.83 when ZnO NPs were added. In most cases, the toxic effects on plants elicited by ZnO NPs were overall similar to those caused by bulk ZnO and soluble Zn (ZnSO4) at the same doses, irrespective of some significant differences suggesting a higher toxicity of ZnO NPs. Oxidative stress in plants via superoxide free radical production was induced by ZnO NPs at 800 mg/kg and above, and was more severe than the same doses of bulk ZnO and ZnSO4. Although significantly lower compared to bulk ZnO and ZnSO4, at least 16 % of the Zn from ZnO NPs was converted into DTPA-extractable (bioavailable) forms. The dissolved Zn2+ from ZnO NPs may make a dominant contribution to their phytotoxicity. Although low amounts of ZnO NPs exhibited some beneficial effects, the accumulation of Zn from ZnO NPs into maize tissues could pose potential health risks for both plants and human.

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Acknowledgments

This work was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41471395, 41171369), Program for Science & Technology Innovation Talents in Universities of Henan Province (2012HASTIT014), the Foundation for University Key Youth Teachers of Henan Province (2012GGJS-079), and the Key Science and Technology Program of Henan Province (132102310373).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, People’s Republic of China

    Xueqin Liu & Xiaojun Shi

  2. Agricultural College, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People’s Republic of China

    Xueqin Liu, Fayuan Wang, Zhaoyong Shi & Xiaojun Shi

  3. Life Science Department, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471022, Henan, People’s Republic of China

    Xueqin Liu & Ruijian Tong

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  1. Xueqin Liu
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Correspondence to Fayuan Wang or Xiaojun Shi.

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Liu, X., Wang, F., Shi, Z. et al. Bioavailability of Zn in ZnO nanoparticle-spiked soil and the implications to maize plants. J Nanopart Res 17, 175 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-2989-2

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