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Zinc oxide nanoparticles alleviate the arsenic toxicity and decrease the accumulation of arsenic in rice (Oryza
Shiwei Yan1, Fan Wu1, Song Zhou1
1Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, School of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, P.R. China.
BMC Plant Biology
|March 25, 2021
Summary
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) reduce arsenic accumulation in rice plants, improving growth and photosynthesis. The study found nZnO effectively mitigates arsenic toxicity, with optimal results at 100 mg/L.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Plant Science
Background:
- Rice readily accumulates arsenic (As), a human carcinogen, in edible parts.
- Nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) is explored for its potential in agriculture due to adsorption and nutrient properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) on arsenic (As) toxicity and bioaccumulation in rice.
- To determine the optimal concentration of nZnO for mitigating As stress in rice.
Main Methods:
- Rice seedlings were treated with varying concentrations of nZnO (0-100 mg/L) and As (2 mg/L).
- Evaluated effects on seedling growth, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activity.
- Quantified As concentrations in shoots and roots and analyzed As species.
Main Results:
- Arsenic exposure induced stress, evidenced by reduced growth and chlorophyll.
- nZnO application (10-100 mg/L) enhanced rice growth and photosynthesis.
- nZnO significantly decreased As accumulation in shoots (up to 40.7%) and roots (up to 31.6%).
- Arsenite [As (III)] was the predominant As species.
- nZnO upregulated phytochelatins (PCs) in roots, reducing As mobility to shoots.
Conclusions:
- Zinc oxide nanoparticles effectively improve rice growth under arsenic stress.
- nZnO significantly reduces arsenic bioaccumulation in rice shoots and roots.
- The optimal concentration for nZnO to mitigate arsenic toxicity in rice is 100 mg/L.
