The inclusion of engineered ZnO nanoparticles and bulk ZnSO4 in the growth medium distinctively modulate the root and leaf metabolome in bean plants.

Together with toxicity, beneficial effects on plant growth have been ascribed to nanoparticles (NPs). This study aimed to survey the growth performance and metabolome adjustment of beans grown in a growth medium containing ZnONPs at different concentrations and compared with bulk ZnSO4 as a positive control. Growth parameters showed a reduction in shoot height starting from the lowest (25 mg L-1 ) concentration of ZnONPs. In comparison, growth was inhibited from 50 mg L-1 ZnSO4 , suggesting more toxic effects of nano forms of Zn. Untargeted metabolomics allowed us to unravel the biochemical processes involved in both promising and detrimental aspects. Multivariate statistics indicated that the tested Zn species substantially and distinctively altered the metabolic profile of both roots and leaves, with more metabolites altered in the former (435) compared with leaves (381). Despite having Zn forms in the growth medium, also leaf metabolome underwent a significant and extensive modulation. In general, the elicitation of secondary metabolism (N-containing compounds, phenylpropanoids, and phytoalexins) and the down-accumulation of fatty acid biosynthesis compounds were common responses to different Zn forms. However, an opposite trend could be observed for amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and cofactors being down-accumulated in ZnONPs treatment. Osmolytes, especially in ZnSO4 treatment, contributed to mitigating the effect of Zn toxicity and maintaining plant growth. Overall, the results indicated a complexity of tissue-specific and Zn-dependent response differences, resulting in distinctive metabolic perturbations.

Is apomixis occurring in walnut (Juglans regia L.)? New data from progeny molecular tests and cytological investigations shed light on its reproductive system.

Introduction: Persian walnut (Juglans regia) is an economically important nut fruit species cultivated worldwide for its nutritious kernel and timber quality wood. Walnut trees are mostly hetero-dichogamous and, depending on the genotype, some cultivars are protogynous, while others are protandrous. Although selfing is possible when male and female blooms overlap, the dichogamy of the species promotes outcrossing. In addition to sexual reproduction, some reports indicate that elements of apomixis may occur in commercial orchards of walnut varieties and in the last two decades, nut production by apomixis has been reported in walnut. However, there are no reliable studies on the occurrence of apomictic reproduction based on cytoembryological observations and/or molecular marker-progeny tests. This study addresses the combined use of molecular and cytological analyses to gain new insights into the population genetics and reproduction systems of J. regia. Methods: We systematically analyzed the reproductive origin of individual progeny plants from 8 different cultivated walnut genotypes using microsatellite genotyping and carried out cytohistological investigations of 5 cultivated walnut genotypes arising seed sets from isolated flowers, to shed light on the mode of reproduction. Results and discussion: These cytometric and genotyping analyses did not support any asexual mode of reproduction or asexual propagation by seed and all individuals studied were identified as zygotic plants produced by crossing. Likewise, the cytological findings did not confirm completely the first component of apomixis, namely apomeiosis. On the other hand, according to histological evidence, adventitious embryony seems to take place at low frequency. Overall, our findings suggest that the occurrence of gametophytic apomixis is unlikely in J. regia, but sporophytic apomixis cannot be completely ruled out.

Foliar Application of CeO2 Nanoparticles Alters Generative Components Fitness and Seed Productivity in Bean Crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

In the era of technology, nanotechnology has been introduced as a new window for agriculture. However, no attention has been paid to the effect of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) on the reproductive stage of plant development to evaluate their toxicity and safety. To address this important topic, bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) treated aerially with nCeO2 suspension at 250-2000 mg L-1 were cultivated until flowering and seed production in the greenhouse condition. Microscopy analysis was carried out on sectioned anthers and ovules at different developmental stages. The pollen's mother cell development in nCeO2 treatments was normal at early stages, the same as control plants. However, the results indicated that pollen grains underwent serious structural damages, including chromosome separation abnormality at anaphase I, pollen wall defect, and pollen grain malformations in nCeO2-treated plants at the highest concentration, which resulted in pollen abortion and yield losses. On the ovule side, the progression of development only at the highest concentration was modified in the two-nucleated embryo sac stage, probably due to apoptosis in nuclei. Nevertheless, the findings confirmed the more pronounced vulnerability of male reproductive development under nCeO2 exposure than female development. The higher concentration decreased seed productivity, including seed set in either pods or whole plant (13% and 18% compared to control, respectively). The data suggested the potential application of nCeO2 at optimal dosages as a plant productivity ameliorative. However, a higher dosage is considered as an eco-environmental hazard. To our best knowledge, this is the first study analyzing reproductive plant response upon exposure to nCeO2.

Exogenous application of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnSO4 distinctly influence the metabolic response in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Nanomaterials-mediated contamination (including the highly reactive metal oxides ZnO nanoparticles) is becoming one of the most concerning issues worldwide. In this study, the toxic effects of two chemical species of Zn (ZnO nanoparticles and bulk ZnSO4) were investigated in bean plants, following either foliar or soil application, at concentrations from 250 to 2000 mg L-1 using biochemical assays, proteomics and metabolomics. The accumulation of Zn in plant tissues depended on the application type, zinc chemical form and concentration, in turn triggering distinctive morphological, physiological, and redox responses. Bean plants were more sensitive to the foliar than to the soil application, and high concentrations of ZnO NP and bulk ZnSO4 determined the highest plant growth inhibition and stress symptoms. However, low dosages of ZnSO4 induced a slight plant growth promotion and better physiological and antioxidative response. Low concentration of Zn leaded to increased activity of stress-related proteins and secondary metabolites with antioxidant capacity, while increasing concentration reached the exhausted phase of the plant stress response, reducing the antioxidant defense system. Such high concentrations increased lipids peroxidation, protein degradation and membranes integrity. Oxidative damage occurred at high concentrations of both chemical species of Zn. Foliar spraying impaired photosynthetic efficiency, while soil applications (especially ZnSO4) elicited antioxidant metabolites and proteins, and impaired chloroplast-related proteins involved in the electron transport chain and ATP production. Taken together, the results highlighted distinctive and nanoparticles-related toxic effects of ZnO in bean, compared to ionic forms of Zn.

Aerially Applied Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Affects Reproductive Components and Seed Quality in Fully Grown Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

The development of reproductive components in plant species is susceptible to environmental stresses. The extensive application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) in various agro-industrial processes has jeopardized the performance and functionality of plants. To understand the response of the developmental (gametogenesis and sporogenesis) processes to nanoparticles (NPs) exposure, the aerial application of nZnO and their ionic counterpart of ZnSO4 at four different levels were examined on bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) before the flowering stage. To evaluate the mentioned processes, briefly, flowers in multiple sizes were fixed in paraffin, followed by sectioning and optical analysis. The possibility of alteration in reproductive cells was thoroughly analyzed using both light and electron microscopes. Overall, our results revealed the histological defects in male and female reproductive systems of mature plants depend on NPs levels. Furthermore, NPs caused tapetum abnormalities, aberrations in carbohydrate accumulation, and apoptosis. The nZnO induced abnormal alterations right after meiosis and partly hindered the microspore development, leading to infertile pollens. The seed yield and dry weight were reduced to 70 and 82% at 2,000 mg L-1 nZnO foliar exposure, respectively. The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern showed the increased expression of two proteins at the molecular weight of 28 and 42 kDa at various concentrations of nZnO and ZnSO4. Overall, our results provided novel insights into the negative effect of nano-scaled Zn on the differential mechanism involved in the reproductive stage of the plants compared with salt form.

Relatively Low Dosages of CeO2 Nanoparticles in the Solid Medium Induce Adjustments in the Secondary Metabolism and Ionomic Balance of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Roots and Leaves.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are known to significantly alter plant metabolism in a dose-dependent manner, with effects ranging from stimulation to toxicity. The metabolic adjustment and ionomic balance of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) roots and leaves gained from plants grown in a solid medium added with relatively low dosages (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L) of CeO2 NPs were investigated. Ce accumulated in the roots (up to 287.91 mg/kg dry weight) and translocated to the aerial parts (up to 2.78% at the highest CeO2 dosage), and ionomic analysis showed that CeO2 NPs interfered with potassium, molybdenum, and zinc. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis from metabolomic profiles suggested a dose-dependent and tissue-specific metabolic reprogramming induced by NPs. The majority of differential metabolites belonged to flavonoids and other phenolics, nitrogen-containing low molecules (such as alkaloids and glucosinolates), lipids, and amino acids.

Evaluation of oil removal efficiency and enzymatic activity in some fungal strains for bioremediation of petroleum-polluted soils.

BACKGROUND: Petroleum pollution is a global disaster and there are several soil cleaning methods including bioremediation. METHODS: In a field study, fugal strains were isolated from oil-contaminated sites of Arak refinery (Iran) and their growth ability was checked in potato dextrose agar (PDA) media containing 0-10% v/v crude oil, the activity of three enzymes (Catalase, Peroxidase and Phenol Oxidase) was evaluated in the fungal colonies and bioremediation ability of the fungi was checked in the experimental pots containing 3 kg sterilized soil and different concentrations of petroleum (0-10% w/w). RESULTS: Four fungal strains, Acromonium sp., Alternaria sp., Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp., were selected as the most resistant ones. They were able to growth in the subjected concentrations and Alternaria sp. showed the highest growth ability in the petroleum containing media. The enzyme assay showed that the enzymatic activity was increased in the oil-contaminated media. Bioremediation results showed that the studied fungi were able to decrease petroleum pollution. The highest petroleum removing efficiency of Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp. and Acromonium sp. was evaluated in the 10%, 8%, 8% and 2% petroleum pollution respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fungi are important microorganisms in decreasing of petroleum pollution. They have bioremediation potency that is related to their enzymatic activities.