title: Effect of nano-TiO(2) on strength of naturally aged seeds and growth of spinach.
abstract: The effects of nano-TiO(2) (rutile) and non-nano-TiO(2) on the germination and growth of naturally aged spinach seeds were studied by measuring the germination rate and the germination and vigor indexes of aged spinach seeds. An increase of these factors was observed at 0.25-4% nano-TiO(2) treatment. During the growth stage, the plant dry weight was increased, as was the chlorophyll formation, the ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity, and the photosynthetic rate. The best results were found at 2.5% nano-TiO(2). The effects of non-nano-TiO(2) are not significant. It is shown that the physiological effects are related to the nanometer-size particles, but the mechanism by which nano-TiO(2) improves the growth of spinach seeds still needs further study.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Suzhou University, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Fashui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Shipeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D010316:Particle Size; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase