title: Effect of carbon nanomaterials on the germination and growth of rice plants.
abstract: For the successful diverse applications of different nanomaterials in life sciences, it is necessary to understand the ultimate fate, distribution and potential environmental impacts of manufactured nanomaterials. Phytotoxicity studies using higher plants is an important criterion for understanding the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials. We studied the effects of engineered carbon nanomaterials of various dimensionalities (carbon nanotubes, C60, graphene) on the germination of rice seeds. A pronounced increase in the rate of germination was observed for rice seeds in the presence of some of these carbon nanostructures, in particular the nanotubes. Increased water content was observed in the carbon nanomaterial treated seeds during germination compared to controls. The germinated seeds were then grown in a basal growth medium supplemented with carbon nanomaterials for studying their impact on further seedling growth. Treated seedlings appeared to be healthier with well-developed root and shoot systems compared to control seedlings. Our results indicate the possible use for carbon nanomaterials as enhancers in the growth of rice seedlings.
authors: Bio Nano Electronics Research Center, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary New Science, Toyo University, Kawagoe, Saitama-350-8585, Japan.
authors: Remya
authors: R
authors: Nair
authors: M Sheikh
authors: MS
authors: Mohamed
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Gao
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Maekawa
authors: Yasuhiko
authors: Y
authors: Yoshida
authors: Pulickel M
authors: PM
authors: Ajayan
authors: D Sakthi
authors: DS
authors: Kumar
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures; D012275:Oryza / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon