Carbon nanotubes are able to penetrate plant seed coat and dramatically affect seed germination and plant growth.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were found to penetrate tomato seeds and affect their germination and growth rates. The germination was found to be dramatically higher for seeds that germinated on medium containing CNTs (10-40 mug/mL) compared to control. Analytical methods indicated that the CNTs are able to penetrate the thick seed coat and support water uptake inside seeds, a process which can affect seed germination and growth of tomato seedlings.
Khodakovskaya
Mariya
M
Department of Applied Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, USA. mvkhodakovsk@ualr.edu
Dervishi
Enkeleda
E
Mahmood
Meena
M
Xu
Yang
Y
Li
Zhongrui
Z
Watanabe
Fumiya
F
Biris
Alexandru S
AS
D018533:Biomass; D005308:Fertilizers; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
D005308:Fertilizers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D014867:Water