Superparamagnetic hematite nanoparticle: Cytogenetic impact on onion roots and seed germination response of major crop plants |
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| Authors: | Kalyani Rath Parameswari Ranganathan Rashmi Kanugodu Vasappa Sridharan Thalaivarisai Balasundaram |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014 Tamilnadu, India ; 2. Department of Biotechnology, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore 562157 Karnataka, India |
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| Abstract: | Augmented escape of nanostructures to the ecosystem has necessitated the comprehensive study of their impact, especially on plants. In the current study, hematite nanoparticles were prepared by employing garlic extract and checked for their cytogenetic effect on onion roots and germination characteristics of five agricultural crops (Vigna radiata, Triticum aestivum, Trigonella foenum‐graecum, Cicer arietinum and Vicia faba) in the concentration range of 20–100 mg/L. Onion roots exhibited an increased mitotic index till 60 mg/L dosage, beyond which trend decreased marginally. Percentage of aberrant chromosomes reported for 100 mg/L exposure was very low (3.358 ± 0.13%) and included common defects such as clumped/sticky metaphase, ring chromosomes, laggards, spindle abnormality, chromosome bridges etc. Moreover, comet assay, DNA laddering experiment and electron micrograph study confirmed negligible damage to onion roots. Seed germination study indicated a positive response in different agronomic traits (germination index, root length, fold change in weight and vigour index) up to 60 mg/L, beyond which either negative or neutral effect was observed. However, none of the samples showed 50% inhibition in germination index; highest being 33.33% inhibition for V. faba, compared to the control. In brief, biogenic hematite nanoparticles caused insignificant phytotoxicity and were likely assimilated as iron source at lower dosage.Inspec keywords: cellular biophysics, agriculture, iron, cellular effects of radiation, crops, biological effects of gamma‐rays, soil pollution, agricultural engineering, DNA, superparamagnetism, nanoparticles, toxicology, food products, biotechnologyOther keywords: mitotic index, aberrant chromosomes, ring chromosomes, chromosome bridges, electron micrograph study, seed germination study, germination index, root length, biogenic hematite nanoparticles, superparamagnetic hematite nanoparticle, Cytogenetic impact, seed germination response, crop plants, cytogenetic effect, germination characteristics, agricultural crops, trigonella foenum‐graecum |
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