Uptake, translocation and physiological effects of magnetic iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles in corn (Zea mays L.).
Iron oxide nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3 NPs) have emerged as an innovative and promising method of iron application in agricultural systems. However, the possible toxicity of γ-Fe2O3 NPs and its uptake and translocation require further study prior to large-scale field application. In this study, we investigated uptake and distribution of γ-Fe2O3 NPs in corn (Zea mays L.) and its impacts on seed germination, antioxidant enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and chlorophyll content were determined. 20 mg/L of γ-Fe2O3 NPs significantly promoted root elongation by 11.5%, and increased germination index and vigor index by 27.2% and 39.6%, respectively. However, 50 and 100 mg/L γ-Fe2O3 NPs remarkably decreased root length by 13.5% and 12.5%, respectively. Additionally, evidence for γ-Fe2O3 NPs induced oxidative stress was exclusively found in the root. Exposures of different concentrations of NPs induced notably high levels of MDA in corn roots, and the MDA levels of corn roots treated by γ-Fe2O3 NPs (20-100 mg/L) were 5-7-fold higher than that observed in the control plants. Meanwhile, the chlorophyll contents were decreased by 11.6%, 39.9% and 19.6%, respectively, upon NPs treatment relative to the control group. Images from fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that γ-Fe2O3 NPs could enter plant roots and migrate apoplastically from the epidermis to the endodermis and accumulate the vacuole. Furthermore, we found that NPs mostly existed around the epidermis of root and no translocation of NPs from roots to shoots was observed. Our results will be highly meaningful on understanding the fate and physiological effects of γ-Fe2O3 NPs in plants.
School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
Junli
J
Li
School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
Jing
J
Hu
Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Chuanxin
C
Ma
Institute of Economic Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Science, Wuhan 430064, PR China.
Yunqiang
Y
Wang
School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
Chan
C
Wu
School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, PR China. Electronic address: huangjin@iccas.ac.cn.
Jin
J
Huang
Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Baoshan
B
Xing
D001692:Biological Transport; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D008280:Magnetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects*
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D002734:Chlorophyll; C000499:ferric oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007501:Iron
Physiological effect; Translocation; Uptake; γ-Fe(2)O(3) NPs