have an inhibiting effect on the growth of root and shoot of the wheat. Moreover, the
fresh and dry weight of the root is also remarkably affected by titanium dioxide
nanoparticles. Jaberzadeh et al. (2013) reported that titanium dioxide nanoparticles
augmented wheat plant growth and yielded components under water-deficit stress
condition. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle regulates enzyme activity involved in
nitrogen metabolism such as nitrate reductase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine
synthase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase that helps the plants to absorb nitrate
and also favors the conversion of inorganic nitrogen to organic nitrogen in the form
of protein and chlorophyll that could increase the fresh weight and dry weight of
plant (Yang et al. 2006; Mishra et al. 2014).
Riahi-Madvar et al. (2012) reported that foliar application of wheat seedlings with
nano-aluminum oxide of less than 50 nanometer diameter decreased the root length,
and as result of oxidative stress, the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase
enzymes increased. In another work, Ramesh et al. (2014) reported that lower
concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited beneficial effect on seed germination of wheat. However, higher dose of nano-zinc oxide impaired seed germination. The effect of nanoparticles on germination depends on concentrations of
nanoparticles and varies from plants to plants.
Copper oxide nanoparticles have the potential to enhance growth and yield of
wheat, but effect is concentration dependent. Hafeez et al. (2015) revealed that copper
nanoparticles do not affect seed germination up to 0.8 parts per million concentration
although impair germination at 1 part per million and above. Lower than 1.0 part per
million concentration of copper nanoparticles in solution culture and less than 50 parts
per million in pots are not toxic for wheat plants. Maximum growth and yield were
recorded with 30 parts per million copper nanoparticles in pots.
Cerium oxide nanoparticles have been considered highly stable in environmental and biological surroundings with limited dissolution in soil and plant tissues
(Gaiser et al. 2009; Xia et al. 2008). Another report investigated the effects of
cerium dioxide exposure on wheat by using hydroponic plant culture. Cerium
dioxide nanoparticles have only minor effects, and no growth reduction or toxic
response was observed (Schwabe et al. 2013), but catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity significantly increased.
Mesoporous silica is actually largely used in catalysis, drug delivery, and imaging
and thus released in the environment. Recently, Nair et al. (2011) demonstrated that
uptake of nonporous silica nanoparticles labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate had
no effect on seed germination at concentrations up to 50 mg L
À1 . In another study,
Hussain et al. (2013) have reported absorption of mesoporous silica nanoparticle
functionalized with amine cross-linked fluorescein isothiocyanate by wheat. These
nanoparticles have a dimension of approximately 20 nanometers with interconnected
pores of around 2 nanometers. The uptake and distribution were examined during
seed germination, in roots and leaves of plants. After germination of wheat in
solution with nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles were found within cells, in cell
wall of roots, and in the xylem and other cells for the transport of elements. Based
on the above mentioned reports (Table 5.1), nanomaterials can be used to enhance
plant seed germination, growth, and development in a dose-dependent manner.
5 Nanotechnology in Wheat Production and Protection
171
fresh and dry weight of the root is also remarkably affected by titanium dioxide
nanoparticles. Jaberzadeh et al. (2013) reported that titanium dioxide nanoparticles
augmented wheat plant growth and yielded components under water-deficit stress
condition. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle regulates enzyme activity involved in
nitrogen metabolism such as nitrate reductase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine
synthase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase that helps the plants to absorb nitrate
and also favors the conversion of inorganic nitrogen to organic nitrogen in the form
of protein and chlorophyll that could increase the fresh weight and dry weight of
plant (Yang et al. 2006; Mishra et al. 2014).
Riahi-Madvar et al. (2012) reported that foliar application of wheat seedlings with
nano-aluminum oxide of less than 50 nanometer diameter decreased the root length,
and as result of oxidative stress, the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase
enzymes increased. In another work, Ramesh et al. (2014) reported that lower
concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited beneficial effect on seed germination of wheat. However, higher dose of nano-zinc oxide impaired seed germination. The effect of nanoparticles on germination depends on concentrations of
nanoparticles and varies from plants to plants.
Copper oxide nanoparticles have the potential to enhance growth and yield of
wheat, but effect is concentration dependent. Hafeez et al. (2015) revealed that copper
nanoparticles do not affect seed germination up to 0.8 parts per million concentration
although impair germination at 1 part per million and above. Lower than 1.0 part per
million concentration of copper nanoparticles in solution culture and less than 50 parts
per million in pots are not toxic for wheat plants. Maximum growth and yield were
recorded with 30 parts per million copper nanoparticles in pots.
Cerium oxide nanoparticles have been considered highly stable in environmental and biological surroundings with limited dissolution in soil and plant tissues
(Gaiser et al. 2009; Xia et al. 2008). Another report investigated the effects of
cerium dioxide exposure on wheat by using hydroponic plant culture. Cerium
dioxide nanoparticles have only minor effects, and no growth reduction or toxic
response was observed (Schwabe et al. 2013), but catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity significantly increased.
Mesoporous silica is actually largely used in catalysis, drug delivery, and imaging
and thus released in the environment. Recently, Nair et al. (2011) demonstrated that
uptake of nonporous silica nanoparticles labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate had
no effect on seed germination at concentrations up to 50 mg L
À1 . In another study,
Hussain et al. (2013) have reported absorption of mesoporous silica nanoparticle
functionalized with amine cross-linked fluorescein isothiocyanate by wheat. These
nanoparticles have a dimension of approximately 20 nanometers with interconnected
pores of around 2 nanometers. The uptake and distribution were examined during
seed germination, in roots and leaves of plants. After germination of wheat in
solution with nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles were found within cells, in cell
wall of roots, and in the xylem and other cells for the transport of elements. Based
on the above mentioned reports (Table 5.1), nanomaterials can be used to enhance
plant seed germination, growth, and development in a dose-dependent manner.
5 Nanotechnology in Wheat Production and Protection
171