Influence of α- and γ-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Physiology and Fruit Quality

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2020-04, Vol.231 (4), Article 143
• Main Authors: Li, Junli, Wan, Fengting, Guo, Wenjing, Huang, Jiali, Dai, Zhaoyi, Yi, Licong, Wang, Yunqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Amino acids; Ascorbic acid; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Chlorophyll; Chlorophylls; Chlorosis; Citrullus lanatus; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Cultivation; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Ferric oxide; Fruits; Hydrogeology; Iron; Iron deficiency; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nutrient deficiency; Nutritive value; Physiology; Plant growth; Plant roots; Saccharides; Soil; Soil Science & Conservation; Vitamins; Water melons; Water Quality/Water Pollution
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-020-04511-3

Iron deficiency has been becoming a worldwide problem in crop cultivation. New approaches are desired to alleviate the iron-deficit chlorosis. Iron-containing nanomaterials could be effective to supply the iron to plants and promote plant growth. In this study, soil cultured watermelon plants were treated with 100, 200, and 400 ppm α- and γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (NPs), respectively. Growth and physiology parameters were investigated in a period of time. The study also evaluated the nutritional quality of watermelon fruit. Results showed that no elevation of plant growth or chlorophyll content was observed. All α- and γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs treatments had no positive influence on nutritional components including central and edge sugar content, and total amino acid content. An interesting result was that the vitamin C (VC) content of all NP treatments was significantly improved compared with the control group (without iron). In addition, we found that iron distribution of α- and γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs treatments was closely related to the concentrations of NPs. Both α- and γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs could accumulate in root, stem, and leaf of watermelon plants, but only 400 ppm γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs treatment was found to exist in watermelon fruit. Although no promotion of α- and γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs on the growth of watermelon plants was occurred, our results showed that both α- and γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs could enter plant roots and translocate upwards to other tissues. Our finds will provide data for the future applications of iron-containing nanomaterials in agricultural production. Graphical Abstract