Biochemical Changes and Oxidative Stress Responses in Allium cepa L. affected by Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

By : Rameena K Jamal , Vimala Jose

Page No: 103-111

Abstract
The use of nanotechnology in agriculture has a positive influence on the food industry along with opening a new area of research in agroecosystems. In this paper, Iron (III) Oxide (Fe2 O3 ) nanoparticles (FeO NPs) were treated with onion (Allium cepa L.) seeds at various concentrations (1mM to 100mM) to investigate the effects on biochemical parameters, photosynthetic traits, and oxidative stress responses of seedlings. FeO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Positive effects were observed in seed germination and the growth of seedlings at lower NPs concentrations. The germination percentage, photosynthetic pigments, and nutritional contents of seedlings were enhanced by 5 mM to 10 mM NPs treatments, also significant decrease in the parameters was not observed at higher concentrations. Antioxidant enzyme studies which could throw light on the toxicity of NPs indicated that FeO-NPs at high levels resulted in lower stress rates whereas the low to moderate concentrations of FeO-NPs were beneficial to the plants. In general, the results indicated that FeO-NPs at low concentrations (5mM) could be useful for onion germination, growth, and biomass production. An increase in the content of antioxidant enzymes at higher concentrations of FeO-NPs pointed towards the plant defence mechanisms against oxidative stress induced by FeO NPs at high (50mM) concentrations. The study gives the effects of Iron oxide nanoparticles on growth, photosynthetic traits, and biochemical parameters of onion seedlings.

Authors:
Rameena K Jamal : Department of Botany, KKTM Govt. College, Kodungallur, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Vimala Jose : Centre for Bionanotechnology, Research and Post Graduate Department of Botany, St. Thomas’ College, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2024.40.01.12