Postponement growth and antioxidative response of Brassica nigra on CuO and ZnO nanoparticles exposure under soil conditions

• Published in: IET nanobiotechnology 2020-07, Vol.14 (5), p.423-427
• Main Authors: Rehman, Riaz ur, Khan, Bakhtawar, Aziz, Tehmina, Gul, Faiza Zareen, Nasreen, Syeda, Zia, Muhammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agricultural products; antioxidant activities; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants - metabolism; antioxidative response; biochemistry; brassica nigra plant; control plants; Copper - toxicity; crops; CuO; CuO NP‐treated plants; enzymes; Flavonoids - analysis; Flavonoids - metabolism; germination; Germination - drug effects; mass 10.0 mug to 35.0 mug; mass 15.3 mug to 59.0 mug; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Mustard Plant - chemistry; Mustard Plant - drug effects; Mustard Plant - metabolism; nanobiotechnology; nanofabrication; nanoparticles; organic compounds; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - metabolism; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - metabolism; renewable materials; Research Article; soil; Soil - chemistry; soil conditions; toxicology; unique physiochemical properties; zinc compounds; Zinc Oxide - toxicity; ZnO; ZnO nanoparticles exposure; ZnO NPs effect
• ISSN: 1751-8741; 1751-875X; 1751-875X
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2019.0357

Due to unique physiochemical properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have acquired substantial attention in the field of research. However, threats of ecotoxicity and phytotoxicity have limited their biological applications. In this study in vivo experiments were performed to determine the effect of CuO (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) and ZnO (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) NPs on growth, and antioxidant activities of Brassica nigra. The results showed that CuO NPs did not affect the seed germination while presence of ZnO NPs in the soil generated an inhibitory effect. Both CuO and ZnO NPs positively influenced the growth of stem and other physiological parameters i.e. stem height increased (23%) at 50 mg/kg CuO while root length decreased (up to 44%) with an increase in the concentration of NPs. Phytochemical screening of apical, middle and basal leaves showed elevated phenolic and flavonoid contents in the range of 15.3–59 μg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/mg Dry Weight (DW) and 10–35 μg Querceitin Equivalent (QE)/mg DW, respectively, in NPs-treated plants. Antioxidant activity was higher in CuO NPs-treated plants as compared to ZnO and control plants. Results conclude that CuO and ZnO NPs at low concentrations can be exploited as nanofertilisers in agriculture fields.