Effect of N-acetyl cysteine coated CdS:Mn/ZnS quantum dots on seed germination and seedling growth of snow pea (Pisum sativum L.): imaging and spectroscopic studies

    Authors

    S. Das; B. P. Wolfson; L. Tetard; J. Tharkur; J. Bazata;S. Santra

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Environ.-Sci. Nano

    Keywords

    HIGH-TEMPERATURE; NANOPARTICLES; RICE; FERTILITY; SPINACH; QUALITY; STRESS; CDS; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Environmental Sciences; Nanoscience &; Nanotechnology

    Abstract

    Anthropogenic nanomaterials (ANMs), once produced, will inevitably be present in the environment. Depending on their environmental stability and level of toxicity, ANMs raise some concern regarding their potential impact on the surrounding animal, aquatic and plant life. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the effect of ultra-small size ( < 5 nm) semiconductor ANMs on the germination and growth of seeds of a snow pea model plant system (Pisum sativum) using a N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) coated core-shell CdS: Mn/ZnS Qdots as a heavy metal ion containing model ANM. We present combined results of fluorescence confocal, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman imaging of quantum dot (Qdot) to track the uptake and localization (translocation) in plant tissue. It was found that Qdots were localized on the surface seed coat, epidermis and intercellular regions. The germination, growth and chlorophyll content of the seedlings were found to be strongly dependent on Qdot dosage and time of seed incubation with Qdots. Interestingly, no acute Cd metal toxicity was observed at Qdot concentration below 40 mu g mL(-1), and seed germination and growth processes were promoted.

    Journal Title

    Environmental Science-Nano

    Volume

    2

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2015

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    203

    Last Page

    212

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000352276500009

    ISSN

    2051-8153

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