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Effects of Stabilized Nanoparticles of Copper, Zinc, Manganese, and Iron Oxides in Low Concentrations on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Seed Germination: Nanotoxicants or Nanonutrients?

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Abstract

Information on the phytotoxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) at low concentrations (e.g., ppb to low ppm) is scarce. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of laboratory-prepared Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe oxide NPs in low concentrations (<50 ppm) on the germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds in a water medium. The data showed that CuO NPs were slightly more toxic than Cu ions while the toxicity of ZnO NPs was similar to that of Zn ions, and MnOx NPs and FeOx NPs were not only less toxic than their ionic counterparts but also significantly stimulated the growth of lettuce seedlings by 12–54 %. This study showed that manufactured NPs were not always more toxic than other chemical species containing the same elements. Instead, Mn or Fe NPs can significantly enhance plant growth and have the potential to be effective nanofertilizers for increasing agronomic productivity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partly funded by Hechi University Start-Up Grant (XJ2015KQ006) awarded to Dr. Huying Zhang. The authors greatly appreciate Ms. Audrey McCray and Mr. Chris Eidson’s help with manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Ruiqiang Liu, Huiying Zhang & Rattan Lal

  2. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hechi University, Yi’zhou, Guangxi, 546300, People’s Republic of China

    Huiying Zhang

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  1. Ruiqiang Liu
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  2. Huiying Zhang
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Correspondence to Huiying Zhang.

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Liu, R., Zhang, H. & Lal, R. Effects of Stabilized Nanoparticles of Copper, Zinc, Manganese, and Iron Oxides in Low Concentrations on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Seed Germination: Nanotoxicants or Nanonutrients?. Water Air Soil Pollut 227, 42 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2738-2

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