title: Toxic effects of graphene on the growth and nutritional levels of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): short- and long-term exposure studies.
abstract: Increased use of graphene materials might lead to their release into the environment. However, only a few studies have investigated the impact of graphene-based materials on green plants. In the present study, effects of graphene on plant roots and shoots after 48h or 30days of hydroponic culture were evaluated to determine its phytotoxicity. Results showed that although exposure to graphene (250, 500, 1000 and 1500mgL(-1)) significantly improved root elongation, root hair production was impaired. These observations might be associated with graphene induced-oxidative stress (indicated by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and Evans blue staining, malondialdehyde (MDA) estimation, and antioxidant enzyme activity assay). After 30days of graphene exposure, shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, PSII activity and levels of several nutrient elements (N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu) were reduced, indicating that graphene inhibited plant growth and photosynthesis, and caused an imbalance of nutrient homeostasis. Based on these findings, we conclude that graphene has growth-limiting effects on plants, including root hair reduction, oxidative burst, photosynthesis inhibition, and nutritional disorder.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors.forename: Ranran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Xianzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors.forename: Tianqi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors.forename: Huijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China. Electronic address: dushaoting@zjgsu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shaoting
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006108:Graphite / Q000633:toxicity*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Chlorophyll fluorescence; Graphene; Nutrients; Oxidative stress; Wheat