Iron Oxide and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Effects on Plant Performance and Root Associated Microbes

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

David J. Burke²  Nicole Pietrasiak²  Shu F. Situ¹  Eric C. Abenojar¹  Mya Porche¹  Pawel Kraj¹  Yutthana Lakliang¹  Anna Cristina S. Samia¹ 

[1] Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; E-Mails:;Holden Arboretum, Kirtland, OH 44094, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: iron oxide nanoparticles;    titanium dioxide nanoparticles;    arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi;    Glycine max;    microbial communities;    nitrogen-fixing bacteria;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms161023630

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this study, we investigated the effect of positively and negatively charged Fe₃O₄ and TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth of soybean plants (Glycine max.) and their root associated soil microbes. Soybean plants were grown in a greenhouse for six weeks after application of different amounts of NPs, and plant growth and nutrient content were examined. Roots were analyzed for colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nodule-forming nitrogen fixing bacteria using DNA-based techniques. We found that plant growth was significantly lower with the application of TiO₂ as compared to Fe₃O₄ NPs. The leaf carbon was also marginally significant lower in plants treated with TiO₂ NPs; however, leaf phosphorus was reduced in plants treated with Fe₃O₄. We found no effects of NP type, concentration, or charge on the community structure of either rhizobia or AM fungi colonizing plant roots. However, the charge of the Fe₃O₄ NPs affected both colonization of the root system by rhizobia as well as leaf phosphorus content. Our results indicate that the type of NP can affect plant growth and nutrient content in an agriculturally important crop species, and that the charge of these particles influences the colonization of the root system by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.