Quantum Dots (QDs), are considered as promising tools for biomedical applications. They have potential applications in agricultural industries, novel pesticide formulations, use in bio-labels and devices to aid genetic manipulation and post-harvest management. Since interactions with higher plants are of important environmental and ecological concern we investigated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CdSe QDs in a model plant (Allium cepa) and established relationships between QDs genotoxic activity and oxidative stress.

Allium cepa bulbs with intact roots were exposed to three concentrations of CdSe QDs (12.5, 25 and 50 nM). Cell viability and mitotic frequencies was measured for cytotoxicity, and to assess the genotoxicity DNA lesions, chromosome aberrations and micronuclei were evaluated. We report that QDs exerted significant genotoxic effects, associated with oxidative stress. This could be correlated with the retention of Cd in Allium roots as a dose-dependent increase with the highest uptake at 50 nM of CdSe QD. Oxidative stress induced by CdSe QD treatment activated both, antioxidant (SOD, CAT) scavengers and antioxidant (GPOD, GSH) enzymes. Concentrations as low as 25 nM CdSe QDs were cytotoxic and 50 nM CdSe QDs was found to be genotoxic to the plant. These findings enable to determine the concentrations to be used when practical applications using nanodevices of this type on plants are being considered.

量子点 (QD) 被认为是用于生物医学应用的有前途的工具。它们在农业、新型农药配方、生物标签和设备中具有潜在的应用，以帮助基因操作和收获后管理。由于与高等植物的相互作用是重要的环境和生态问题，我们研究了模型植物（洋葱）中 CdSe 量子点的细胞毒性和基因毒性，并建立了量子点基因毒性活性与氧化应激之间的关系。

具有完整根的洋葱球茎暴露于三种浓度的 CdSe QD（12.5、25 和 50 nM）。测量细胞活力和有丝分裂频率的细胞毒性，并评估DNA损伤、染色体畸变和微核以评估遗传毒性。我们报告说，量子点发挥显着的基因毒性作用，与氧化应激相关。这可能与 Cd 在Allium 中的保留有关根作为剂量依赖性增加，在 50 nM CdSe QD 时吸收最高。CdSe QD 处理诱导的氧化应激激活了抗氧化剂（SOD、CAT）清除剂和抗氧化剂（GPOD、GSH）酶。低至 25 nM CdSe QD 的浓度具有细胞毒性，并且发现 50 nM CdSe QD 对植物具有遗传毒性。这些发现能够确定在考虑在植物上使用此类纳米器件的实际应用时要使用的浓度。