Fine-tuning protocols for accurate study of nanoparticle adhesion and uptake after foliar deposition.

Understanding the interactions between plant leaves and nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial for advancing both environmental and the safety of plant protection products. Recent studies showed how the fate of NPs on leaf surfaces is influenced by NP properties, plant surface, and environmental factors. Yet, inconsistent methods for exposing leaves and measuring NPs uptake hinder reproducibility and comparability across studies.

Effect of a Zinc Phosphate Shell on the Uptake and Translocation of Foliarly Applied ZnO Nanoparticles in Pepper Plants ().

Here, isotopically labeled ZnO NPs (ZnO NPs) and ZnO NPs with a thin Zn(PO) shell (ZnO_Ph NPs) were foliarly applied (40 μg Zn) to pepper plants () to determine the effect of surface chemistry of ZnO NPs on the Zn uptake and systemic translocation to plant organs over 6 weeks. Despite similar dissolution of both Zn-based NPs after 3 weeks, the Zn(PO) shell on ZnO_Ph NPs (48 ± 12 nm; -18.1 ± 0.

Perinatal foodborne titanium dioxide exposure-mediated dysbiosis predisposes mice to develop colitis through life.

Background: Perinatal exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO), as a foodborne particle, may influence the intestinal barrier function and the susceptibility to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) later in life. Here, we investigate the impact of perinatal foodborne TiO exposure on the intestinal mucosal function and the susceptibility to develop IBD-associated colitis. Pregnant and lactating mother mice were exposed to TiO until pups weaning and the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function of their offspring was assessed at day 30 post-birth (weaning) and at adult age (50 days).

Transcriptional response of Cu-deficient barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to foliar-applied nano-Cu: Molecular crosstalk between Cu loading into plants and changes in Cu homeostasis genes.

For safe and effective nutrient management, the cutting-edge approaches to plant fertilization are continuously developed. The aim of the study was to analyze the transcriptional response of barley suffering from Cu deficiency to foliar application of nanoparticulate Cu (nano-Cu) and its ionic form (CuSO) at 100 and 1000 mg L for the examination of their supplementing effect. The initial interactions of Cu-compounds with barley leaves were analyzed with spectroscopic (ICP-OES) and microscopic (SEM-EDS) methods.

Impact of potentially toxic elements on pines in a former ore processing mine: Exploitation of hyperspectral response from needle and canopy scales.

Anthropic potentially toxic element (PTE) releases can lead to persistent pollution in soil. Monitoring PTEs by their detection and quantification on large scale is of great interest. The vegetation exposed to PTEs can exhibit a reduction of physiological activities, structural damage … Such vegetation trait changes impact the spectral signature in the reflective domain 0.

Interactive effects of metals and carbon nanotubes in a microcosm agrosystem.

Agricultural soils are exposed to multiple contaminants through the use of agrochemicals or sewage sludge, introducing metals, nanomaterials and others. Among nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known for their large surface area and adsorption capabilities, possibly modifying other element behavior. However, to date, very little is known about the impacts of such interactions in agrosystems.

Cutting-edge spectroscopy techniques highlight toxicity mechanisms of copper oxide nanoparticles in the aquatic plant Myriophyllum spicatum.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have been increasingly released in aquatic ecosystems over the past decades as they are used in many applications. Cu toxicity to different organisms has already been highlighted in the literature, however toxicity mechanisms of the nanoparticulate form remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effect, transfer and localization of CuO-NPs compared to Cu salt on the aquatic plant Myriophyllum spicatum, an ecotoxicological model species with a pivotal role in freshwater ecosystems, to establish a clear mode of action.

A Critical Review on the Impacts of Nanoplastics and Microplastics on Aquatic and Terrestrial Photosynthetic Organisms.

Microplastic and nanoplastic contamination is widespread and affects aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Photosynthetic organisms are present in both media, they are primary producers, sink for CO , and they represent a major point of entry in the food chain. Here, the current knowledge on the fate and impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics in interaction with these organisms is reviewed.

Comparative study of response of four crop species exposed to carbon nanotube contamination in soil.

Crop plants are exposed to a variety of contaminants through sewage sludge spreading but very little is known about the impact of emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials. To date their impact on plants is still very controversial with many works claiming negative impacts while some authors suggest their use as plant growth regulator in agriculture. In this study, aiming to better understand where these discrepancies may come from, we investigated the influence of plant species (tomato, rapeseed, cucumber and maize) on plant response to a carbon nanotube contamination in soil condition.

Medicago truncatula Ferroportin2 mediates iron import into nodule symbiosomes.

Iron is an essential cofactor for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, required by many of the enzymes involved, including signal transduction proteins, O homeostasis systems, and nitrogenase itself. Consequently, host plants have developed a transport network to deliver essential iron to nitrogen-fixing nodule cells. Ferroportin family members in model legume Medicago truncatula were identified and their expression was determined.

Nicotianamine Synthase 2 Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Nodules.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation carried out by the interaction between legumes and diazotrophic bacteria known as rhizobia requires relatively large levels of transition metals. These elements are cofactors of many key enzymes involved in this process. Metallic micronutrients are obtained from soil by the roots and directed to sink organs by the vasculature, in a process mediated by a number of metal transporters and small organic molecules that facilitate metal delivery in the plant fluids.

Genotypes of the aquatic plant Myriophyllum spicatum with different growth strategies show contrasting sensitivities to copper contamination.

Genotypic variability has been considered for years as a key attribute in species adaptation to new environments. It has been extensively studied in a context of chemical resistance, but remains poorly studied in response to chemical exposure in a context of global change. As aquatic ecosystems are particularly affected by environmental changes, we aimed to study how genotypic variability could inflect the sensitivity of aquatic plants to chemicals.

Does intraspecific variability matter in ecological risk assessment? Investigation of genotypic variations in three macrophyte species exposed to copper.

To limit anthropogenic impact on ecosystems, regulations have been implemented along with global awareness that human activities are harmful to the environment. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is the main procedure which allows to assess potential impacts of stressors on the environment as a result of human activities. ERA is typically implemented through different steps of laboratory testing.

Environmental variations mediate duckweed (Lemna minor L.) sensitivity to copper exposure through phenotypic plasticity.

Environmentally mediated sensitivity of Lemna minor to copper (Cu) was evaluated for the first time in three experiments: the effects of two levels of nutrient concentration, light irradiance or Cu pre-exposure were tested. Various Cu concentrations (ranging from 0.05 to 0.

Assessing the impacts of sewage sludge amendment containing nano-TiO on tomato plants: A life cycle study.

Increasing evidence indicates the presence of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in sewage sludge derived from wastewater treatment. Land application of sewage sludge is, therefore, considered as an important pathway for ENP transfer to the environment. The aim of this work was to understand the effects of sewage sludge containing nano-TiO on plants (tomato) when used as an amendment in agricultural soil.

Transfer and Ecotoxicity of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems: A Microcosm Study.

With the advancement in nanotechnology, particularly the use of TiO nanoparticles (NPs), there is a need to study their release into the environment and assess the related risk in an environmentally relevant contamination scenario. In the present study, the transfer and toxicity of TiO NPs in microcosms mimicking terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems were evaluated. The contaminated soil was prepared by spiking natural soils, with these then used as the basis for all exposure systems including preparation of soil leachates for amphibian exposure.

Etiolated Seedling Development Requires Repression of Photomorphogenesis by a Small Cell-Wall-Derived Dark Signal.

Etiolated growth in darkness or the irreversible transition to photomorphogenesis in the light engages alternative developmental programs operating across all organs of a plant seedling. Dark-grown Arabidopsis de-etiolated by zinc (dez) mutants exhibit morphological, cellular, metabolic, and transcriptional characteristics of light-grown seedlings. We identify the causal mutation in TRICHOME BIREFRINGENCE encoding a putative acyl transferase.

Medicago truncatula Zinc-Iron Permease6 provides zinc to rhizobia-infected nodule cells.

Zinc is a micronutrient required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. It has been proposed that in model legume Medicago truncatula, zinc is delivered by the root vasculature into the nodule and released in the infection/differentiation zone. There, transporters must introduce this element into rhizobia-infected cells to metallate the apoproteins that use zinc as a cofactor.

Practical review on the use of synchrotron based micro- and nano- X-ray fluorescence mapping and X-ray absorption spectroscopy to investigate the interactions between plants and engineered nanomaterials.

The increased use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in commercial products and the continuous development of novel applications, is leading to increased intentional and unintentional release of ENMs into the environment with potential negative impacts. Particularly, the partition of nanoparticles (NPs) to waste water treatment plant (WWTP) sludge represents a potential threat to agricultural ecosystems where these biosolids are being applied as fertilizers. Moreover, several applications of ENMs in agriculture and soil remediation are suggested.

Mother-plant-mediated pumping of zinc into the developing seed.

Insufficient intake of zinc and iron from a cereal-based diet is one of the causes of 'hidden hunger' (micronutrient deficiency), which affects some two billion people(1,2). Identifying a limiting factor in the molecular mechanism of zinc loading into seeds is an important step towards determining the genetic basis for variation of grain micronutrient content and developing breeding strategies to improve this trait(3). Nutrients are translocated to developing seeds at a rate that is regulated by transport processes in source leaves, in the phloem vascular pathway, and at seed sinks.

Lung distribution, quantification, co-localization and speciation of silver nanoparticles after lung exposure in mice.

Large knowledge gaps still exist on the toxicological mechanisms of silver (Ag) engineered nanoparticles (ENPs); a comprehensive understanding of the sources, biodistribution, toxicity and transformation of Ag ENPs along their life cycle and after transfer in living organisms is needed. In a previous study, mice were pulmonary exposed to Ag ENPs and local (lung) and systemic toxic effects together with biodistribution to organs including heart, liver, spleen and kidney were investigated. Here, Ag lung distribution, local concentration, co-localization with other elements such as Fe, Cu and S, and speciation were determined after lung exposure to Ag ENPs using micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), micro X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (μXANES) and micro proton-induced X-ray emission (μPIXE) techniques.

Fate of pristine TiO2 nanoparticles and aged paint-containing TiO2 nanoparticles in lettuce crop after foliar exposure.

Engineered TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are present in a large variety of consumer products, and are produced in largest amount. The building industry is a major sector using TiO2-NPs, especially in paints. The fate of NPs after their release in the environment is still largely unknown, and their possible transfer in plants and subsequent impacts have not been studied in detail.

Foliar exposure of the crop Lactuca sativa to silver nanoparticles: evidence for internalization and changes in Ag speciation.

The impact of engineered nanomaterials on plants, which act as a major point of entry of contaminants into trophic chains, is little documented. The foliar pathway is even less known than the soil-root pathway. However, significant inputs of nanoparticles (NPs) on plant foliage may be expected due to deposition of atmospheric particles or application of NP-containing pesticides.

Comparative uptake and impact of TiO₂ nanoparticles in wheat and rapeseed.

Up to 2 million tons per year of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NP) are produced worldwide. This extensive production is postulated to result in release into the environment with subsequent contamination of soils and plants; however, few studies have examined TiO₂-NP uptake and impact on plants. In this study, wheat and rapeseed plantlets were exposed to 14 nm or 25 nm anatase TiO₂-NP in hydroponics conditions, either through root or leaf exposure.