title: The effect and fate of water-soluble carbon nanodots in maize (Zea mays L.).
abstract: In this study, the toxicity of water-soluble carbon nanodots (C-dots) to maize (Zea mays L.) and their uptake and transport in plants were investigated. After exposed in sand matrix amended with 0-2000 mg/L C-dots for 4 weeks, we found that the phytotoxicity of C-dots was concentration-dependent. C-dots at 250 and 500 mg/L showed no toxicity to maize. However, 1000 and 2000 mg/L C-dots significantly reduced the fresh weight of root by 57% and 68%, and decreased the shoot fresh weight by 38% and 72%, respectively. Moreover, in maize roots, the exposure of C-dots at 2000 mg/L significantly increased the H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation (6.5 and 1.65 times higher, respectively), as well as, the antioxidant enzymes activities, up to 2, 1.5, 1.9 and 1.9 times higher for catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, respectively. On the other hand, C-dots were observed in detached root-cap cells, cortex and vascular bundle of roots and mesophyll cells of leaves through fluorescence microscopy analysis, suggesting that C-dots were absorbed and translocated systemically in maize. Remarkably, a certain amount of C-dots were excreted out from leaf blade. To our knowledge, this is the first study combined phenotypic observation with physiologic responses and bioaccumulation and translocation analysis of C-dots to investigate their effect and fate in maize.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University , Changchun , China .
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University , Changchun , China .
authors.forename: Runzhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University , Changchun , China .
authors.forename: Zhongzhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University , Changchun , China .
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma , Norman , OK , USA , and.
authors.forename: Chuanbin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University , Changchun , China .|c Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of MOE , Changchun , China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University , Changchun , China .
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C121048:guaiacol peroxidase; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Excretion; physiologic responses; phytotoxicity; transport; uptake