Sign in Subscribe
Agricultural industry

Nanoparticles Disrupt Plant Cellular Processes, Enhance Root Absorption, and Cause Oxidative Damage

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

New research from Shantou University in the People's Republic of China has revealed that micro- or nanoparticles, specifically polystyrene, graphene quantum dots, and single-walled carbon nanotubes, can have a significant impact on hydroponically grown cherry radishes and lettuce. The study, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province and the Innovation Team Project of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, discovered that nanoparticles can disrupt cellular processes, increase cell sap concentration, and promote water absorption in cherry radishes, while inducing antioxidative responses and oxidative damage in lettuce.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nanoparticles, specifically polystyrene, graphene quantum dots, and single-walled carbon nanotubes, can penetrate plant cells and accumulate in the fleshy root cells of cherry radishes.
  • In cherry radishes, nanoparticles disrupted cellular processes, breaking down starch and protein into soluble sugars and proteins, increasing their concentrations by 11.9-18.8% and 44.8-75.5%, respectively.
  • In lettuce, nanoparticles induced antioxidative responses, significantly increasing hydrogen peroxide levels by 30.6%, 1.1%, 28.5%, and 67.4% for PS100, PS300, GQDs, and SWCNTs, respectively.
  • Elevated malondialdehyde levels indicated severe lipid peroxidation, with GQDs causing the most damage, reducing the lipid content by 63.2% and 38.2%.
  • Micro- or nanoparticles can migrate from roots to leaves through transpiration in lettuce, while SWCNTs can induce cytoplasmic and cell wall separation.
  • The research concluded that micro- or nanoparticles can accumulate in directly exposed lettuce roots, but whether they can migrate to unexposed roots requires further investigation.

Statistics:

  • 47.3% reduction in root dehydrogenase activity (DHA) under 50 mg L-1 treatments of PS100, PS300, GQDs, and SWCNTs.
  • 26.3%, 60.3%, and 36.9% reduction in DHA under 50 mg L-1 treatments of PS300, GQDs, and SWCNTs, respectively.
  • 30.6%, 1.1%, 28.5%, and 67.4% increase in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels under 10 mg L-1 treatments of PS100, PS300, GQDs, and SWCNTs, respectively.
  • 76.4%, 1.1%, 43.2%, and 29.5% increase in H2O2 levels under 50 mg L-1 treatments of PS100, PS300, GQDs, and SWCNTs, respectively.
  • 63.2% reduction in lipid content by GQDs.
  • 38.2% reduction in lipid content by SWCNTs.

Sources:

  • Stress Impacts of Different Types of Micro- and Nanomaterials On Vegetable Crops. Environmental Science: Nano, 2025.
  • NewsRx. New Nanoparticles Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at Shantou University (Stress Impacts of Different Types of Micro- and Nanomaterials On Vegetable Crops). Agriculture Week. June 19, 2025; p 962.

Read more