Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in <i>Brassica napus</i> L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages

doi:10.1007/s11783-023-1643-y

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (4) : 43 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1643-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages

Tao Li¹, Xiufeng Cao², Rui Zhao¹, Zhaojie Cui¹(

)

¹. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
². School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, China

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Abstract

● Higher concentrations of PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H inhibited seed germination.

● PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H influenced seedling growth in a dose-dependent manner.

● PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H reduced essential nutrients uptake and plant quality.

● PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H increased antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA content.

● Nanoplastic toxicity was related to surface charges.

Nanoplastic pollution has become a significant problem in farmland systems worldwide. However, research on the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) with different charges on field crops is still limited. In our study, NPs with different charges, including unmodified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS), positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH₂), and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-SO₃H), were investigated for their impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rape. The results showed that seed water uptake (after 12 h), seed germination, seed vigour, and relative root elongation were all significantly reduced under exposure to NPs (200 mg/L). Similarly, remarkable decreases in plant biomass (root weight, shoot weight), growth (root length, plant height), photosynthesis ability (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids), essential nutrient uptake (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), and plant quality (soluble protein, soluble sugar, crude fibre content) of rape seedlings were also observed after exposure to NPs. Among the three kinds of NPs, PS-NH₂ showed stronger effects. Moreover, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities of rape seedlings were changed, and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased under exposure to NPs. Furthermore, positively charged PS-NH₂ showed stronger effects on the phenotype, physiology, biochemistry, nutrient uptake, and plant quality of rape. Notably, a comprehensive toxicity evaluation revealed that PS-NH₂ had the strongest toxicity to rape. The present study provides important implications for the interaction and risk assessment of NPs and crops in soil-plant systems.

Keywords Nanoplastics Rape (Brassica napus L.) Physiology and biochemistry Nutrient absorption Plant quality Toxicity

Corresponding Author(s): Zhaojie Cui

Issue Date: 20 October 2022

Cite this article:

Tao Li,Xiufeng Cao,Rui Zhao, et al. Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2023, 17(4): 43.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-023-1643-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2023/V17/I4/43

Fig.1 SEM images (a), DLS size distribution (b), and FTIR spectra (c) of PS, PS-NH₂, and PS-SO₃H.

Fig.2 Effects of PS, PS-NH₂, and PS-SO₃H on the relative seed germination (a), seed vigour index (b), and relative root elongation (c) of rape seeds. Error bars indicate standard deviations (n = 3). Significance of difference between the control and NP treatments: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.

Fig.3 Root length (a), plant height (b), root fresh weight (c), shoot fresh weight (d), and growth status of rape seedlings (e). Error bars indicate standard deviations (n = 3). Significance of difference between the control and NP treatments: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.

Fig.4 Chlorophyll a (a), chlorophyll b (b), and carotenoid (c) contents in the leaves of rape seedlings. Error bars indicate standard deviations (n = 3). Significance of difference between the control and NP treatments: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.

Fig.5 Content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (a), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (b), peroxidase (POD) (c), and catalase (CAT) (d) in the shoots and roots of rape seedlings. Error bars indicate standard deviations (n = 3). Significance of difference between the control and NP treatments: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.

Fig.6 Contents of Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in the shoots and roots of rape seedlings cultivated in hydroponic solution amended with PS (a), PS-NH₂ (b), and PS-SO₃H (c). Error bars indicate standard deviations (n = 3). Significance of difference between the control and NP treatments: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01

Fig.7 Contents of soluble protein (a), soluble sugar (b), and crude fibre (c) in the shoots of rape seedlings. Error bars indicate standard deviations (n = 3). Significance of difference between the control and NP treatments: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.

Fig.8 Principal component analysis of ten indicators (oxidative stress, antioxidant substances, and plant quality indicators) (a) and NP concentrations (b). The 1–3 represent PS, PS-NH₂, and PS-SO₃H, respectively. C represents the control. The L25–L200 represent NPs concentrations of 25 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, and 200 mg/L, respectively.

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