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Role of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Countering Negative Effects Generated by Cadmium in Lycopersicon esculentum

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Abstract

Nanotechnology now plays a revolutionary role in many applications; nanomaterials have experienced significant importance in both basic and applied sciences as well as in bio-nanotechnology. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have become one of the most important metal oxide NPs in biological applications due to their beneficial impacts. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of ZnO-NPs in reducing Cd toxicity by studying the growth, photosynthesis reactions, antioxidant system, oxidative stress, and protein content in Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato). ZnO-NPs induced an upregulation of antioxidative enzymes which protect the photosynthetic apparatus in plants. Seeds of tomato were sown to create nursery. At 20 days after sowing (DAS), seedlings were transferred to soil pots. Varied concentrations (0.4, 0.6 or 0.8 mM) of Cd were applied to the soil after 24 and 25 DAS. Zinc (Zn; 50 mg/L) and ZnO-NPs (50 mg/L) treatments were given continuously for 5 days from 31 to 35 DAS and sampling took place at 45 DAS. The results indicate that a Cd-generated oxidative burst in the form of elevated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels resulted in a decline in cell viability through enhanced activity of the antioxidant system and proline content; the data increased on follow-up treatment with ZnO-NPs. Foliar application of ZnO-NPs significantly enhanced plant height, fresh, and dry weight of plant, leaf area, SPAD chlorophyll, photosynthetic attributes, i.e., net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), and stomatal conductance (gs). Application of ZnO-NPs reduced the adverse effects generated by Cd and increased protein content, activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase over the control in both stressed and non-stressed plants. Additionally, microscopic studies showed a marked increase in stomatal aperture after ZnO-NPs treatment in the presence or absence of Cd. This was associated with decrease in malondialdehyde and superoxide radical (O2−) levels. The present study suggests that ZnO-NPs can be effectively used to reduce the toxicity of Cd in tomato plants and may also be suitable for testing on other crop species.

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Acknowledgement

M. Faizan gratefully acknowledges the Chairman, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, for providing all necessary facilities in carrying out this work. Authors are thankful to Prof. John Pichtel, Ball State University, USA for correcting the manuscript for English grammars.

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This research did not receive any grant from agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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  1. Plant Physiology Section, Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohammad Faizan, Ahmad Faraz, Anayat Rasool Mir & Shamsul Hayat

  2. Tree Seed Center, College of Forest Resources and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People’s Republic of China

    Mohammad Faizan

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Faizan, M., Faraz, A., Mir, A.R. et al. Role of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Countering Negative Effects Generated by Cadmium in Lycopersicon esculentum. J Plant Growth Regul 40, 101–115 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-10059-2

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