title: Physiological effects of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita mixta) plants.
abstract: To date, knowledge gaps and associated uncertainties remain unaddressed on the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on plants. This study was focused on revealing some of the physiological effects of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) NPs on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita mixta cv. white cushaw) plants under hydroponic conditions. This study for the first time reports that Fe(3)O(4) NPs often induced more oxidative stress than Fe(3)O(4) bulk particles in the ryegrass and pumpkin roots and shoots as indicated by significantly increased: (i) superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities, and (ii) lipid peroxidation. However, tested Fe(3)O(4) NPs appear unable to be translocated in the ryegrass and pumpkin plants. This was supported by the following data: (i) No magnetization was detected in the shoots of either plant treated with 30, 100 and 500 mg l(-1) Fe(3)O(4) NPs; (ii) Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic study confirmed that the coordination environment of Fe in these plant shoots was similar to that of Fe-citrate complexes, but not to that of Fe(3)O(4) NPs; and (iii) total Fe content in the ryegrass and pumpkin shoots treated with Fe(3)O(4) NPs was not significantly increased compared to that in the control shoots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Huanhua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Zhiguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: John Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiaoquan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Baoshan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xing
mesh_terms: D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008129:Lolium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008280:Magnetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase