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Ahmed T, Noman M, White JC, Ma C, Wang Q, Li B. Quantum dots: next shift to combat plant diseases. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:724-726. [PMID: 38431495 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Plant diseases caused by microbial pathogens significantly reduce agriculture productivity and worsen food insecurity. Recently, Qiu et al. revealed that polyethyleneimine (PEI)-coated MXene quantum dots (QDs) improve tolerance in cotton seedlings against Verticillium wilt disease by maintaining oxidative system homeostasis. This finding shows how customized QDs can be used to enhance crop disease resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temoor Ahmed
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou 311231, China; MEU Research Unit, Middle East University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Muhammad Noman
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jason C White
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Chuanxin Ma
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Chai S, Deng W, Yang J, Guo L, Wang L, Jiang Y, Liao J, Deng X, Yang R, Zhang Y, Lu Z, Wang X, Zhang L. Physiological and molecular mechanisms of ZnO quantum dots mitigating cadmium stress in Salvia miltiorrhiza. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134245. [PMID: 38603910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
This study delved into the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the mitigation of cadmium (Cd) stress in the model medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza through the application of ZnO quantum dots (ZnO QDs, 3.84 nm). A pot experiment was conducted, wherein S. miltiorrhiza was subjected to Cd stress for six weeks with foliar application of 100 mg/L ZnO QDs. Physiological analyses demonstrated that compared to Cd stress alone, ZnO QDs improved biomass, reduced Cd accumulation, increased the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), and enhanced the levels of essential nutrient elements (Ca, Mn, and Cu) under Cd stress. Furthermore, ZnO QDs significantly lowered Cd-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, including H2O2, O2-, and MDA, while enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, APX, and GSH-PX). Additionally, ZnO QDs promoted the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, such as total protein, soluble sugars, terpenoids, and phenols, thereby mitigating Cd stress in S. miltiorrhiza. At the molecular level, ZnO QDs were found to activate the expression of stress signal transduction-related genes, subsequently regulating the expression of downstream target genes associated with metal transport, cell wall synthesis, and secondary metabolite synthesis via transcription factors. This activation mechanism contributed to enhancing Cd tolerance in S. miltiorrhiza. In summary, these findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying the mitigation of Cd stress by ZnO QDs, offering a potential nanomaterial-based strategy for enhancing Cd tolerance in medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songyue Chai
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Weihao Deng
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Jianping Yang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Linfeng Guo
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Long Wang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Jinqiu Liao
- Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Xuexue Deng
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Ruiwu Yang
- Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Yunsong Zhang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Zhiwei Lu
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Xianxiang Wang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
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Guo Y, Li H, Hao Y, Shang H, Jia W, Liang A, Xu X, Li C, Ma C. Size Effects of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Boosting Soybean Growth via Differentially Modulating Nitrogen Assimilation. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:746. [PMID: 38727340 PMCID: PMC11085672 DOI: 10.3390/nano14090746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Nanoscale agrochemicals have been widely used in sustainable agriculture and may potentially affect the nitrogen fixation process in legume crops. The present study investigated the size-effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on nitrogen assimilation in soybean (G. max (L.) Merrill) plants, which were treated with different sizes (20 and 50 nm) of CuO NPs at low use doses (1 and 10 mg/kg) for 21 days under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that 50 nm CuO NPs significantly increased the fresh biomass more than 20 nm CuO NPs achieved at 10 mg/kg. The activities of N assimilation-associated enzymes and the contents of nitrogenous compounds, including nitrates, proteins, and amino acids, in soybean tissues were greatly increased across all the CuO NP treatments. The use doses of two sizes of CuO NPs had no impact on the Cu contents in shoots and roots but indeed increased the Cu contents in soils in a dose-dependent fashion. Overall, our findings demonstrated that both 20 and 50 nm CuO NPs could positively alter soybean growth and boost N assimilation, furthering our understanding that the application of nanoscale micro-nutrient-related agrochemicals at an optimal size and dose will greatly contribute to increasing the yield and quality of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaozu Guo
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Yi Hao
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Heping Shang
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Weili Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, SCNU Environmental Research Institute, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Anqi Liang
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Xinxin Xu
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Chunyang Li
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
| | - Chuanxin Ma
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.H.); (H.S.); (A.L.); (X.X.); (C.L.)
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Zhou Q, Li X, Zheng X, Zhang X, Jiang Y, Shen H. Metabolomics reveals the phytotoxicity mechanisms of foliar spinach exposed to bulk and nano sizes of PbCO 3. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133097. [PMID: 38113737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
PbCO3 is an ancient raw material for Pb minerals and continues to pose potential risks to the environment and human health through mining and industrial processes. However, the specific effects of unintentional PbCO3 discharge on edible plants remain poorly understood. This study unravels how foliar application of PbCO3 induces phytotoxicity by potentially influencing leaf morphology, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress, and metabolic pathways related to energy regulation, cell damage, and antioxidant defense in Spinacia oleracea L. Additionally, it quantifies the resultant human health risks. Plants were foliarly exposed to PbCO3 nanoparticles (NPs) and bulk products (BPs), as well as Pb2+ at 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg·L-1 concentrations once a day for three weeks. The presence and localization of PbCO3 NPs inside the plant cells were confirmed by TEM-EDS analysis. The maximum accumulation of total Pb was recorded in the root (2947.77 mg·kg-1 DW for ion exposure), followed by the shoot (942.50 mg·kg-1 DW for NPs exposure). The results revealed that PbCO3 and Pb2+ exposure had size- and dose-dependent inhibitory effects on spinach length, biomass, and photosynthesis attributes, inducing impacts on the antioxidase activity of CAT, membrane permeability, and nutrient elements absorption and translocation. Pb2+ exhibited pronounced toxicity in morphology and chlorophyll; PbCO3 BP exposure accumulated the most lipid peroxidation products of MDA and H2O2; and PbCO3 NPs triggered the largest cell membrane damage. Furthermore, PbCO3 NPs at 10 and 100 mg·L-1 induced dose-dependent metabolic reprogramming in spinach leaves, disturbing the metabolic mechanisms related to amino acids, antioxidant defense, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid cycle, and the respiratory chain. The spinach showed a non-carcinogenic health risk hierarchy: Pb2+ > PbCO3 NPs > PbCO3 BPs, with children more vulnerable than adults. These findings enhance our understanding of PbCO3 particle effects on food security, emphasizing the need for further research to minimize their impact on human dietary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qishang Zhou
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK.
| | - Xueming Zheng
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China
| | - Yueheng Jiang
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China
| | - He Shen
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China
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Chai S, Yang Z, Deng X, Wang L, Jiang Y, Liao J, Yang R, Wang X, Zhang L. ZnO quantum dots alleviate salt stress in Salvia miltiorrhiza by enhancing growth, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and modulating stress-responsive genes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123363. [PMID: 38242309 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Experiments were conducted to investigate the alleviating effects of ZnO quantum dots (ZnO QDs) on salt stress in Salvia miltiorrhiza by comparing them with conventional ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The results demonstrated that compared with salt stress alone, foliar application of ZnO QDs significantly improved the biomass as well as the total chlorophyll and carotenoids contents under salt stress. ZnO QDs reduced H2O2 and MDA levels, decreased non-enzymatic antioxidant (ASA and GSH) content, and improved antioxidant enzyme (POD, SOD, CAT, PAL, and PPO) activity under salt stress. Metal elemental analysis further demonstrated that the ZnO QDs markedly increased Zn and K contents while decreasing Na content, resulting in a lower Na/K ratio compared to salt stress alone. Finally, RNA sequencing results indicated that ZnO QDs primarily regulated genes associated with stress-responsive pathways, including plant hormone signal transduction, the MAPK signaling pathway, and metabolic-related pathways, thereby alleviating the adverse effects of salt stress. In comparison, ZnO NPs did not exhibit similar effects in terms of improving plant growth, enhancing the antioxidant system, or regulating stress-responsive genes under salt stress. These findings highlight the distinct advantages of ZnO QDs and suggest their potential as a valuable tool for mitigating salt stress in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songyue Chai
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Ziya Yang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Xuexue Deng
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Long Wang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Jinqiu Liao
- Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Ruiwu Yang
- Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Xianxiang Wang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China
| | - Li Zhang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China; Featured Medicinal Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China.
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Guo S, Zhang X, Sun H. Transcriptomic mechanism for foliar applied nano-ZnO alleviating phytotoxicity of nanoplastics in corn (Zea mays L.) plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:166818. [PMID: 37722423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics, as emerging pollutants, have drawn increasing concerns for their potential threats to agriculture and food security. ZnO nanoparticles (nano-ZnO), serving as ideal nano-fertilizer dispersion in sustainable agriculture, might be a promising application for nanoplastic stress management. To determine the role of nano-ZnO in regulating crop response towards nanoplastic pollutions, corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings after leaf treatment by nano-ZnO were foliar exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs). The presence of nano-ZnO significantly reduced the accumulation of PSNPs in corn leaf, stem and root tissues by 40.7 %-71.4 %. Physiologically, nano-ZnO prominently decreased the extent of PSNP-induced reduction in chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rates, thereby greatly weakening the toxic effects of PSNPs on corn plant growth. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses demonstrated that responsive differentially expressed genes involved in photosynthesis, glutathione metabolism and phytohormone signal transduction pathways explained the enhanced tolerance of corn plants to PSNPs under the addition of nano-ZnO. Among the key genes of photosynthesis, nano-ZnO ensured the regular expression of chlorophyll synthesis genes (CHLH, CHLD, CHLM, DVR, GTR and POR), photosystem II gene (PetH), and carbon fixation enzyme genes (pepc, rbcL and rbcS) inhibited by PSNP exposure. These findings enlarge our understanding of the mechanism by which nano-ZnO attenuates the negative effects of nanoplastics on crops, which is of great significance for improving the sustainable utilization of nano-fertilizers in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Guo
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Xiajie Zhang
- Shanxi Laboratory for Yellow River, College of Environment and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Haifeng Sun
- Shanxi Laboratory for Yellow River, College of Environment and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
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Sun M, Zhao C, Shang H, Hao Y, Han L, Qian K, White JC, Ma C, Xing B. ZnO quantum dots outperform nanoscale and bulk particles for enhancing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and nutritional values. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159330. [PMID: 36228785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings were exposed by foliar or root applications to Zn in different nanoscale and non-nanoscale forms (40 mg Zn/L) under hydroponic conditions for 15 days. Under foliar exposure, ZnO QDs significantly promoted tomato growth, while ZnO NPs and BPs had lower impacts. ZnO QDs increased fresh weight and plant height by 42.02 % and 21.10 % relative to the untreated controls, respectively. The ionic control (ZnSO4·7H2O, 176.6 mg/L) decreased fresh weight by 39.31 %. ZnO QDs also significantly increased the Chla/Chlb ratio, as well as carotenoids and protein content by 7.70 %, 8.90 % and 26.33 %, respectively, over the untreated controls, suggesting improvement in seedling photosynthetic performance. Antioxidant enzyme (POD, PPO and PAL) activities in ZnO QDs treated shoots were significantly decreased by 31.1 %, 17.8 % and 48.3 %, respectively, indicating no overt oxidative damage from exposure. Importantly, the translocation factor of Zn (TFZn) in the foliar exposure of the ZnO QDs treatment was 73.2 %, 97.1 % and 276.9 % greater than the NPs, BPs, and ionic controls, respectively. Overall, these findings clearly demonstrate that foliar spray of nanoscale nutrients at the appropriate concentration and size can significantly increase crop growth and be a sustainable approach to nano-enabled agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Sun
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Heping Shang
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yi Hao
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lanfang Han
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Kun Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jason C White
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06504, USA
| | - Chuanxin Ma
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Yang Y, Wang X, Song Z, Zheng Y, Ji S. Proteomics and Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Toxicity of ZnO Quantum Dots on Human SMMC-7721 Cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:277-291. [PMID: 36683595 PMCID: PMC9851061 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s389535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose ZnO quantum dots (QDs) are composed of less toxic metals than other QDs but have the same interesting photochemical properties. Thus, they have received considerable attention recently. Nevertheless, their toxicity cannot be ignored. Methods In this study, we incubated ZnO QDs with human SMMC-7721 cells for 24 h to assess their nanotoxicity through proteomics (Fold change >1.5 and p-value <0.05) and metabolomics (Fold change ≥ 1.5; VIP ≥ 1; p-value < 0.05) analyses. Results Both of 174 and 219 significantly changed metabolites were identified in human SMMC-7721 cells treated with 20 and 50 µg/mL ZnO QDs, respectively. ZnO QDs significantly modified metabolic pathways, including purine metabolism, ferroptosis, morphine addiction, alcoholism, cGMP-PKG signaling, and Cushing syndrome. Moreover, we identified 105 and 8 differentially expressed proteins in cells treated with 20 and 50 µg/mL ZnO QDs, and the pathways of alcoholism and Cushing syndrome were enriched. Conclusion ZnO QDs did not affect cell viability in a CCK8 assay, but disturbed the level of intracellular metabolites and proteins at 20 µg/mL. The KEGG analyses of the metabolomics and proteomics data both enriched the alcoholism and Cushing syndrome pathways. These results provide an experimental basis for future research on the safe use of nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Yang
- Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Wang
- Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhenhua Song
- Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yafei Zheng
- Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaoping Ji
- Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Shaoping Ji, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 371 2388 0585, Fax +86 371 2388 0585, Email
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Geng M, Li L, Ai M, Jin J, Hu D, Song K. Recent Advances in Metal-Based Nanoparticle-Mediated Biological Effects in Arabidopsis thaliana: A Mini Review. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15134539. [PMID: 35806668 PMCID: PMC9267373 DOI: 10.3390/ma15134539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The widespread application of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) has prompted great interest in nano-biosafety. Consequently, as more and more MNPs are released into the environment and eventually sink into the soil, plants, as an essential component of the ecosystem, are at greater risk of exposure and response to these MNPs. Therefore, to understand the potential impact of nanoparticles on the environment, their effects should be thoroughly investigated. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) is an ideal model plant for studying the impact of environmental stress on plants’ growth and development because the ways in which Arabidopsis adapt to these stresses resemble those of many plants, and therefore, conclusions obtained from these scientific studies have often been used as the universal reference for other plants. This study reviewed the main findings of present-day interactions between MNPs and Arabidopsis thaliana from plant internalization to phytotoxic effects to reveal the mechanisms by which nanomaterials affect plant growth and development. We also analyzed the remaining unsolved problems in this field and provide a perspective for future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Geng
- College of Food and Biology, Changchun Polytechnic, Changchun 130033, China;
| | - Linlin Li
- School of Life Science, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China; (L.L.); (M.A.); (J.J.); (D.H.)
| | - Mingjun Ai
- School of Life Science, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China; (L.L.); (M.A.); (J.J.); (D.H.)
| | - Jun Jin
- School of Life Science, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China; (L.L.); (M.A.); (J.J.); (D.H.)
| | - Die Hu
- School of Life Science, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China; (L.L.); (M.A.); (J.J.); (D.H.)
| | - Kai Song
- School of Life Science, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China; (L.L.); (M.A.); (J.J.); (D.H.)
- Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China
- Correspondence:
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