Influence of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles on Two Terrestrial Wild Plant Species

• Main Authors: Daniel Lizzi, Alessandro Mattiello, Alessio Adamiano, Guido Fellet, Emanuele Gava, Luca Marchiol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: cerium oxide nanoparticles; <i>Holcus lanatus</i>; <i>Diplotaxis tenuifolia</i>; biometric variables; Ce accumulation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/335

Most current studies on the relationships between plans and engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are focused on food crops, while the effects on spontaneous plants have been neglected so far. However, from an ecological perspective, the ENMs impacts on the wild plants could have dire consequences on food webs and ecosystem services. Therefore, they should not be considered less critical. A pot trial was carried out in greenhouse conditions to evaluate the growth of <i>Holcus lanatus</i> L. (monocot) and <i>Diplotaxis tenuifolia</i> L. DC. (dicot) exposed to cerium oxide nanoparticles (<i>n</i>CeO₂). Plants were grown for their entire cycle in a substrate amended with 200 mg kg⁻¹<i>n</i>CeO₂ having the size of 25 nm and 50 nm, respectively. <i>n</i>CeO₂ were taken up by plant roots and then translocated towards leaf tissues of both species. However, the mean size of <i>n</i>CeO₂ found in the roots of the species was different. In <i>D. tenuifolia</i>, there was evidence of more significant particle aggregation compared to <i>H. lanatus</i>. Further, biomass variables (dry weight of plant fractions and leaf area) showed that plant species responded differently to the treatments. In the experimental conditions, there were recorded stimulating effects on plant growth. However, nutritional imbalances for macro and micronutrients were observed, as well.