Influence of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles on Two Terrestrial Wild Plant Species

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 Holcus lanatus L. (monocot) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. DC. (dicot) exposed to cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO(2)). Plants were grown for their entire cycle in a substrate amended with 200 mg kg(-1) nCeO(2) having the size of 25 nm and 50 nm, respectively. nCeO(2) were taken up by plant roots and then translocated towards leaf tissues of both species. However, the mean size of nCeO(2) found in the roots of the species was different. In D. tenuifolia, there was evidence of more significant particle aggregation compared to H. lanatus. 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.

Automated summary

Current studies have primarily focused on the impact of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on food crops, neglecting the effects on wild plants, which could have dire consequences on food webs and ecosystem services. A pot trial conducted in greenhouse conditions revealed that plants uptake and translocate cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO(2) in different ways, leading to varied responses among plant species to the treatments. The experiment also showed stimulating effects on plant growth, but with observed nutritional imbalances for macro and micronutrients.