Single and Repeated Applications of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Differently Affect the Growth and Biomass Accumulation of <i>Silene flos-cuculi L</i>. (<i>Caryophyllaceae</i>)

• Main Authors: Daniel Lizzi, Alessandro Mattiello, Barbara Piani, Emanuele Gava, Guido Fellet, Luca Marchiol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: cerium oxide nanoparticles; terrestrial ecosystem; wild plant species; plant growth
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/1/229
• ISSN: 2079-4991

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (<i>n</i>CeO₂) have a wide variety of applications in industry. Models demonstrated that <i>n</i>CeO₂can reach environmental compartments. Studies regarding the relationships between plants and <i>n</i>CeO₂ considered only crop species, whereas a relevant knowledge gap exists regarding wild plant species. Specimens of <i>Silene flos-cuculi</i> (<i>Caryophyllaceae</i>) were grown in greenhouse conditions in a substrate amended with a single dose (D1) and two and three doses (D2 and D3) of 20 mg kg⁻¹ and 200 mg kg⁻¹<i>n</i>CeO₂suspensions, respectively. sp-ICP-MS and ICP-MS data demonstrated that <i>n</i>CeO₂ was taken up by plant roots and translocated towards aerial plant fractions. Biometric variables showed that plants responded negatively to the treatments with a shortage in biomass of roots and stems. Although not at relevant concentrations, Ce was accumulated mainly in roots and plant leaves.