Răcuciu Mihaela, Barbu-Tudoran Lucian, Oancea Simona
Environmental Sciences and Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Dr. I. Ratiu Str., no. 5-7, 550012, Sibiu, Romania.
Electron Microscopy Integrated Laboratory, National Institute for R&D of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Donat Str., no. 67-103, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 29;15(1):18951. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03872-1.
Engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have potential applications in agriculture, but their effects vary depending on their composition, concentration, and plant species. In this study, we investigated the biological effects of iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMA-IONPs) on Zea mays (corn). The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), revealing an average diameter of 10.78 nm, and by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, which confirmed TMA binding and colloidal stability in an aqueous medium. Corn seeds were germinated directly in aqueous solutions of TMA-IONPs at six concentrations ranging from 7.6 to 45.6 mg/L. Seedlings were grown under controlled environmental conditions, and all analyses were performed on day seven of seedling development. The following parameters were assessed: germination rate; seedling growth (shoot and root length); chlorophyll content; antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and peroxidase); and mitotic index in root meristematic cells. Concentrations up to 45.6 mg/L significantly enhanced germination, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and enzymatic antioxidant activity. The highest mitotic index was observed at 38 mg/L with a low incidence of chromosomal aberrations. These findings suggest that low concentrations of TMA-IONPs promote corn seedling growth by stimulating cell division and modulating oxidative stress response. Further research is required to assess the broader agricultural potential and safety of these nanoparticle formulations.
工程化氧化铁纳米颗粒（IONPs）在农业中具有潜在应用，但它们的效果因组成、浓度和植物种类而异。在本研究中，我们研究了用氢氧化四甲铵稳定的氧化铁纳米颗粒（TMA-IONPs）对玉米的生物学效应。通过透射电子显微镜和扫描电子显微镜（TEM、SEM）对纳米颗粒进行表征，其平均直径为10.78纳米，通过衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱（ATR-FTIR）证实了TMA的结合以及在水性介质中的胶体稳定性。玉米种子直接在浓度范围为7.6至45.6毫克/升的六种TMA-IONP水溶液中发芽。幼苗在可控环境条件下生长，所有分析均在幼苗发育的第七天进行。评估了以下参数：发芽率；幼苗生长（茎和根长度）；叶绿素含量；抗氧化酶活性（过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶）；以及根分生细胞中的有丝分裂指数。高达45.6毫克/升的浓度显著提高了发芽率、生物量积累、叶绿素生物合成和酶促抗氧化活性。在38毫克/升时观察到最高的有丝分裂指数，且染色体畸变发生率较低。这些发现表明，低浓度的TMA-IONPs通过刺激细胞分裂和调节氧化应激反应促进玉米幼苗生长。需要进一步研究来评估这些纳米颗粒制剂更广泛的农业潜力和安全性。
