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Silicon nanoparticles decrease arsenic translocation and mitigate phytotoxicity in tomato plants
Magín González-Moscoso1, Antonio Juárez-Maldonado2, Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego3
1Doctorado en Agricultura Protegida, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Buenavista, 25315, Saltillo, Coahuila, México.
Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) mitigate arsenic (As) uptake in tomato plants, reducing translocation and improving plant adaptation despite As contamination. This research is crucial for understanding As and nanoparticle impacts on crop production in affected regions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Science
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Arsenic (As) contamination in irrigation water poses a significant risk to crop production and food safety.
- Understanding the uptake, accumulation, and translocation of As in plants is crucial for risk assessment.
- Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) are being explored for their potential to mitigate heavy metal stress in plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of As-contaminated water on tomato plants.
- To evaluate the efficacy of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (Si NPs) in mitigating As uptake and toxicity.
- To determine the impact of As and Si NPs on As bioaccumulation, phytotoxicity, and physiological responses in tomato plants.
Main Methods:
- Tomato plants were irrigated with varying concentrations of As (0–3.2 mg L⁻¹).
- Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (0, 250, 1000 mg L⁻¹) were applied to assess their mitigating effects.
- Arsenic concentrations were measured in substrate and plant tissues (roots, leaves, steam).
- Phytotoxicity, As accumulation, translocation, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, APX) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- As-contaminated water led to As enrichment in the substrate and bioaccumulation in tomato plants (roots > leaves > steam).
- As translocation increased with higher As concentrations in irrigation water.
- Phytotoxicity was observed at low As concentrations, while yield paradoxically increased at high As levels.
- Si NP application reduced As translocation, tomato yield, and root biomass.
- Si NPs enhanced photosynthetic pigments and enzymatic activity (CAT, APX), indicating improved plant adaptation to As stress.
Conclusions:
- Arsenic contamination significantly impacts tomato plants, affecting As accumulation and translocation.
- Silicon nanoparticles show potential in reducing As uptake and mitigating its adverse effects on tomato plants.
- The findings highlight the combined risks of As and nanoparticles in agricultural settings with contaminated groundwater, impacting tomato production.
