Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) are widely used in food additives, solar cells, photocatalysis, and skin care. However, the increased production and widespread application of nano-TiO2 will inevitably result in their release into the environment. Since nanoparticles including nano-TiO2 exhibit physical and chemical properties remarkably different from their bulk materials, concern has been growing about their transpot, fate, and toxicity in the environment. In this study, we investigated physiological and photochemical influences on tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) caused by nano-TiO2 exposure. For the study, 100 mg L-1 of nano-TiO2 was exposed to tomato plant for 90 days under different light irradiances (135 and 550 µmolphoton m-2 s-1). During the study, phenotypic and physiological influences were studied, i.e., color change, growth rate, and fruit productivity as phenotypic effects and additionally pigment concentration and enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, APX) for monitoring physiological effects. The results showed numerous effects caused by high irradiance and by nano-TiO2 exposure, such as rapid chlorophyll decrease, concentration increase on anthocyanin and carotenoid, high enzymatic activity, and ~8 times enhanced fruit production. This study provides fundamental information necessary to understand the fate and effect of nanoparticles in soil and plants.

Physiological and photochemical effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on tomato plants under different irradiance

2019 Fall National Meeting

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