1 research outputs found
Effect of a Zinc Phosphate Shell on the Uptake and Translocation of Foliarly Applied ZnO Nanoparticles in Pepper Plants (Capsicum annuum)
Here, isotopically
labeled 68ZnO NPs (ZnO NPs) and 68ZnO NPs with
a thin 68Zn3(PO4)2 shell
(ZnO_Ph NPs) were foliarly applied (40 Ī¼g
Zn) to pepper plants (Capsicum annuum) to determine the effect of surface chemistry of ZnO NPs on the
Zn uptake and systemic translocation to plant organs over 6 weeks.
Despite similar dissolution of both Zn-based NPs after 3 weeks, the
Zn3(PO4)2 shell on ZnO_Ph NPs (48
Ā± 12 nm; ā18.1 Ā± 0.6 mV) enabled a leaf uptake of
2.31 Ā± 0.34 Ī¼g of Zn, which is 2.7 times higher than the
0.86 Ā± 0.18 Ī¼g of Zn observed for ZnO NPs (26 Ā± 8
nm; 14.6 Ā± 0.4 mV). Further, ZnO_Ph NPs led to higher Zn mobility
and phloem loading, while Zn from ZnO NPs was stored in the epidermal
tissues, possibly through cell wall immobilization as a storage strategy.
These differences led to higher translocation of Zn from the ZnO_Ph
NPs within all plant compartments. ZnO_Ph NPs were also more persistent
as NPs in the exposed leaf and in the plant stem over time. As a result,
the treatment of ZnO_Ph NPs induced significantly higher Zn transport
to the fruit than ZnO NPs. As determined by spICP-TOFMS, Zn in the
fruit was not in the NP form. These results suggest that the Zn3(PO4)2 shell on ZnO NPs can help promote
the transport of Zn to pepper fruits when foliarly applied. This work
provides insight into the role of Zn3(PO4)2 on the surface of ZnO NPs in foliar uptake and in
planta biodistribution for improving Zn delivery to edible
plant parts and ultimately improving the Zn content in food for human
consumption