The improvement of spinach growth by nano-anatase TiO2 treatment is related to nitrogen photoreduction.
The improvement of spinach growth is proved to relate to N2 fixation by nano-anatase TiO2 in this study. The results show that all spinach leaves kept green by nano-anatase TiO2 treatment and all old leaves of control turned yellow white under culture with N-deficient solution. And the fresh weight, dry weight, and contents of total nitrogen, NH4(+), chlorophyll, and protein of spinach by nano-anatase TiO2 treatment presented obvious enhancement compared with control. Whereas the improvements of yield of spinach were not as good as nano-anatase TiO2 treatment under N-deficient condition, confirming that nano-anatase TiO2 on exposure to sunlight could chemisorb N2 directly or reduce N2 to NH3 in the spinach leaves, transforming into organic nitrogen and improving the growth of spinach. Bulk TiO2 effect, however, was not as significant as nano-anatase TiO2. A possible metabolism of the function of nano-anatase TiO2 reducing N2 to NH3 was discussed.
Yang
Fan
F
College of Life Sciences, Suzhou University, Suzhou 215006, People's Republic of China.
Liu
Chao
C
Gao
Fengqing
F
Su
Mingyu
M
Wu
Xiao
X
Zheng
Lei
L
Hong
Fashui
F
Yang
Ping
P
D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D053761:Nanocomposites; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000187:drug effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010777:Photochemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013472:Sunlight; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D002734:Chlorophyll; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D009584:Nitrogen