Nanoparticles have been widely used in agriculture, industries and biomedicine. As increasing usage of these compounds, more and more are released into the environment. However, the study on impact of nanoparticles on environment falls behind their application. Studies by ourselves and others show that nanoparticle exposure affects plant growth and development with a dose-depend manner. Low concentrations of nanoparticles had less effect and even promoted plant growth and development; high concentrations of nanoparticles inhibited seed generation and growth. Nanoparticle exposure also affected the expression of different microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate the gene networks involving in plant growth and development as well as response to environmental stress. Low concentrations (0.1% and 1%) of TiO2 and Al2O3  nanoparticles dramatically induced miRNA expression in tobacco or switchgrass seedlings with miR395 and miR399 exhibiting the greatest fold changes of 285 fold and 143 fold, respectively. The results of this study show that miRNAs may play an important role in plant response to heavy metals/nanoparticles by regulating gene expression.<br/>

Impact of nanoparticles on plant growth and development and the microRNA-mediated regulation

254th National Meeting (2017)

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