Abstract
The profuse use of nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer products has raised concerns about their impacts in environmental and human health and possible transfer into the food chain through plants. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a widely cultivated garden vegetable that could be in contact with NPs through biosolids. In this Dissertation research, the impact of TiO2 NPs was evaluated in cucumber plants grown in hydroponics and sandy loam soil. Hydroponically grown plants were treated for 15 days with 0-4000 mg/L of TiO2 NPs, and their vegetative tissues were studied using synchrotron micro X-Ray Fluorescence (micro-XRF) and Micro X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (micro-XANES). In soil, the cucumber seeds were germinated and grown to full maturity with 0-750 mg/kg of TiO2 NPs. At harvest, vegetative tissue and fruits were analyzed using synchrotron micro-XRF, micro-XANES spectroscopic techniques, and biochemical assays. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine possible changes in macromolecules of cucumber fruit. Results from hydroponic experiments showed that TiO2 significantly increased root length at all concentrations (average >300%). In addition, micro-XRF analysis showed that the Ti was taken up from the hydroponic solution and transported through the xylem from the root to leaf tissue, including to trichomes. The micro-XANES spectra showed that Ti found in the vascular system of cucumber was present as TiO2, demonstrating that TiO2 NPs were not biotransformed. Results from soil experiments showed a significant increase in catalase activity at all NP concentrations; while ascorbate peroxidase decreased at 500 mg kg-1 in cucumber leaves. In addition, leaves from 750 mg kg -1 TiO2 NPs treatment, showed an increase in total chlorophyll content. FTIR spectra of fruits from TiO2 NP treated plants showed significant differences in all band areas, suggesting modification in macromolecules of cucumber fruits. Furthermore, micro-XRF and micro-XANES results showed that TiO2 NPs were translocated from roots to fruit without biotransformation or crystal modification, suggesting that TiO2 NPs could be introduced into the food chain with unknown consequences for human health. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence and effects of TiO2 in the edible portion of cucumber plant grown in soil with TiO2 NPs.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
TiO2 significantly increased cucumber root length at all hydroponic concentrations by an average over 300%.
- Taxon
- Cucumber
Cucumis sativust0 - Treatment
- TiO2 NPse1
- Outcome
- root lengthe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- >300%e0
- Setting
- Hydroponicallye1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“TiO2 significantly increased root length at all concentrations (average >300%)”
e1“Hydroponically grown plants were treated for 15 days with 0-4000 mg/L of TiO2 NPs”
t0“Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)”
Claim · model-written summary
Titanium was taken up and transported through xylem to cucumber leaf tissue and trichomes.
- Taxon
- CucumberCucumis sativust0
- Organ / stage
- leaf tissuee0
- Outcome
- Ti was taken up from the hydroponic solution and transported through the xylem from the root to leaf tissue, including to trichomese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the Ti was taken up from the hydroponic solution and transported through the xylem from the root to leaf tissue, including to trichomes”
t0“Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)”
Claim · model-written summary
Titanium in cucumber vascular tissue remained TiO2 without biotransformation.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativuse0
- Organ / stage
- vascular systeme0
- Outcome
- TiO2 NPs were not biotransformede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ti found in the vascular system of cucumber was present as TiO2, demonstrating that TiO2 NPs were not biotransformed”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil TiO2 nanoparticles significantly increased cucumber leaf catalase activity at all concentrations.
- Taxon
- CucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- NPe0
- Outcome
- catalase activitye0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Setting
- soile0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Results from soil experiments showed a significant increase in catalase activity at all NP concentrations”
t0“Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)”
Claim · model-written summary
Ascorbate peroxidase decreased in cucumber leaves at 500 mg kg-1.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativuse0
- Organ / stage
- leavese0
- Treatment
- 500 mg kg-1e0
- Outcome
- ascorbate peroxidasee0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“ascorbate peroxidase decreased at 500 mg kg-1 in cucumber leaves”
Claim · model-written summary
Cucumber leaf total chlorophyll increased at 750 mg kg -1 TiO2 nanoparticles.
- Taxon
- CucumberCucumis sativust0
- Organ / stage
- leavese0
- Treatment
- 750 mg kg -1 TiO2 NPse0
- Outcome
- total chlorophyll contente0
- Direction
- increasee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“leaves from 750 mg kg -1 TiO2 NPs treatment, showed an increase in total chlorophyll content”
t0“Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit FTIR band areas differed significantly after TiO2 nanoparticle treatment.
- Taxon
- CucumberCucumis sativust0
- Organ / stage
- fruitse0
- Treatment
- TiO2 NPe0
- Outcome
- all band arease0
- Direction
- differencese0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“FTIR spectra of fruits from TiO2 NP treated plants showed significant differences in all band areas”
t0“Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)”
Claim · model-written summary
TiO2 nanoparticles moved from cucumber roots to fruit without biotransformation or crystal change.
- Taxon
- CucumberCucumis sativust0
- Organ / stage
- fruite0
- Outcome
- TiO2 NPs were translocated from roots to fruit without biotransformation or crystal modificatione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“TiO2 NPs were translocated from roots to fruit without biotransformation or crystal modification”
t0“Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)”
The same questions in other papers
nanoparticle · growth · Cucumis sativus (cucumber)Positive and negative results
23 papers in the same direction as this paper · 2 in the opposite direction
- negative
- no effect
- positive
22 papers more in this group
See all 26 papers →nanoparticle · physiology: antioxidant enzymes · Cucumis sativus (cucumber)Results agree
2 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.