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Environmental effects of nanosilver: impact on castor seed germination, seedling growth, and plant physiology

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Abstract

Increasing use of nanoparticles in daily products is of great concern today, especially when their positive and negative impact on environment is not known. Hence, in current research, we have studied the impact of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) application on seed germination, root, and shoot length of castor bean, Ricinus communis L. plant. Silver nanoparticles had no significant effects on seedling growth even at higher concentration of 4,000 mg L−1, while the silver in bulk form as AgNO3 applied on the castor bean seeds inhibited the seed germination. Silver uptake in seedlings of the castor seeds on treatment with both the forms of silver was confirmed through atomic absorption spectroscopy studies. The silver nanoparticle and silver nitrate application to castor seeds also caused an enhanced enzymatic activity of ROS enzymes and phenolic content in castor seedlings. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of individual phenols indicated enhanced content of parahydroxy benzoic acid. These kinds of studies are of great interest in order to unveil the movement and accumulation of nanoparticles in plant tissues for assessing future applications in the field or laboratory.

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Abbreviations

AAS:

Atomic absorption spectroscopy

AgNPs:

Silver nanoparticles

AgNO3 :

Silver nitrate

CAT:

Catalase

DLS:

Dynamic light scattering

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

NP:

Nanoparticles

POD:

Peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TEM:

Transmission electron microscope

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Dr. J. S. Yadav, Director, CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad, India, for providing the facilities to carry out the present research. One of the authors JY thanks CSIR, New Delhi, for financial support.

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  1. Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, 500007, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Jyothsna Yasur & Pathipati Usha Rani

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  1. Jyothsna Yasur
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  2. Pathipati Usha Rani
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Correspondence to Pathipati Usha Rani.

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Yasur, J., Rani, P.U. Environmental effects of nanosilver: impact on castor seed germination, seedling growth, and plant physiology. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 8636–8648 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1798-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1798-3

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