Understanding the phyto-interaction of heavy metal oxide bulk and nanoparticles: evaluation of seed germination, growth, bioaccumulation, and metallothionein production.

ABSTRACT: The fast-growing use of nano-based products without proper care has led to a major public health concern. Nanomaterials contaminating the environment pose serious threat to the productivity of plants and via food chain to human health. Realizing these, four vegetable crops, radish, cucumber, tomato, and alfalfa, were exposed to varying concentrations of heavy metal oxide (TiO₂, ZnO, Al₂O₃ and CuO) submicron or bulk (BPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) to assess their impact on relative seed germination (RSG), seed surface adsorption, root/shoot tolerance index (RTI/STI), bioaccumulation, and metallothioneins (MTs) production. The results revealed a clear inhibition of RSG, RTI, and STI, which, however, varied between species of metal-specific nanoparticles

SUBMITTER: Ahmed B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9060428 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature