Open AccessImpact of Zinc oxide nanoparticles on eggplant ( S. melongena ): studies on growth and the accumulation of nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Thunugunta Tejaswi,
Channa Reddy Aswath,
Kodthalu Seetharamaiah Shivashankara,
Ramanna Hunashikatti Laxman,
Gowdra Chandrappa Satisha,
Cherukatu Kalathil Narayana,
Dhoranapalli Chinnappa Reddy Lakshmana Reddy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
iet nanobiotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.366
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1751-875X
pISSN - 1751-8741
DOI - 10.1049/iet-nbt.2017.0237
Subject(s) - seedling , nanoparticle , germination , melongena , zinc , greenhouse , crop , materials science , solanum , horticulture , chemistry , agronomy , nanotechnology , biology , metallurgy
The increasing use of nanoparticles and their occurrence in the environment has made it imperative to elucidate their impact on the environment. Although several studies have advanced the authors’ understanding of nanoparticle–plant interactions, their knowledge of the exposure of plants to nanoparticles and their effects on edible crop plants remain meager and is often paradoxical. The aim of this study was to increase their knowledge on the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on eggplant seed germination and seedling growth. ZnO nanoparticles had a negative effect on the growth of eggplant in plant tissue‐culture conditions, as the growth of seedlings decreased with the increase in the concentration of ZnO nanoparticles. In contrast, ZnO nanoparticles enhanced eggplant growth under greenhouse conditions. The accumulation of ZnO nanoparticles in various parts of eggplant was observed through scanning electron microscopy of both plant tissue‐culture and greenhouse‐raised eggplant seedlings. To the best of their knowledge, this is the first study to report on ZnO nanoparticle accumulation in eggplant and its effect on seed germination and seedling growth.