Phytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles on Tobacco Plants: Evaluation of Coating Effects on Photosynthetic Performance and Chloroplast Ultrastructure

Peharec Štefanić, Petra; Košpić, Karla; Lyons, Daniel Mark; Jurković, Lara; Balen, Biljana; Tkalec, Mirta (2021) Phytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles on Tobacco Plants: Evaluation of Coating Effects on Photosynthetic Performance and Chloroplast Ultrastructure. Nanomaterials, 11 (3). pp. 744-764. ISSN 2079-4991

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Official URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/3/744

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most exploited nanomaterial in agriculture and food production, and their release into the environment raises concern about their impact on plants. Since AgNPs are prone to biotransformation, various surface coatings are used to enhance their stability, which may modulate AgNP-imposed toxic effects. In this study, the impact of AgNPs stabilized with different coatings (citrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) and AgNO3 on photosynthesis of tobacco plants as well as AgNP stability in exposure medium have been investigated. Obtained results revealed that AgNP-citrate induced the least effects on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and pigment content, which could be ascribed to their fast agglomeration in the exposure medium and consequently weak uptake. The impact of AgNP-PVP and AgNP-CTAB was more severe, inducing a deterioration of photosynthetic activity along with reduced pigment content and alterations in chloroplast ultrastructure, which could be correlated to their higher stability, elevated Ag accumulation, and surface charge. In conclusion, intrinsic properties of AgNP coatings affect their stability and bioavailability in the biological medium, thereby indirectly contributing changes in the photosynthetic apparatus. Moreover, AgNP treatments exhibited more severe inhibitory effects compared to AgNO3, which indicates that the impact on photosynthesis is dependent on the form of Ag.

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

chlorophyll fluorescence ; chloroplast ultrastructure ; Nicotiana tabacum L. ; photosynthetic pigments ; silver ions ; silver nanoparticles

Subjects:

NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology

Divisions:

Center for Marine Research

Projects:

Project title	Project leader	Project code	Project type
Fitotoksičnost nanosrebra: mehanizmi akcije i interakcije u stanicama duhana	Balen, Biljana	IP-2014-09-6488	HRZZ
Određivanje fizikalno-kemijskih svojstava i toksičnosti nanočestica srebra, bakra i plastike kao potencijalno štetnih novih materijala u obalnim vodama	Lyons, Daniel Mark	IP-2018-01-5351	HRZZ

Depositing User:

Daniel Mark Lyons

Date Deposited:

25 Mar 2021 12:09

URI:

http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/6367

DOI:

10.3390/nano11030744