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Abstract
The effects of Fe3O4, TiO2 and carbon nanoparticles on the cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seed germination rate, root elongation and germination index were studied. The nanoparticles used ranged in average particle size from 30–50 nm, and their concentration ranged from 0 to 5000 μg/mL. Inhibitory effects were observed and the reduction in root growth was more obvious than the seed germination percentages. In all cases some perturbations of the normal functions with respect to control in germinating test were observed. The results obtained provide a better understanding of the phytotoxicity of the nanomaterials used in this study, and may help to further understand the interaction of nanoparticles with the environment prior to their use in agriculture.
Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to Dr. Abul Hussam for providing the nanoparticles suspensions and facilities in his laboratory, and for undertaking this research as a summer project in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA. His invaluable help and guidance in the preparation of the manuscript is very much appreciated. Thanks are also due to the anonymous reviewers for their editorial recommendations that significantly improved this paper. The author also extends her sincere thanks to Nadia for providing assistance in the laboratory.
The author is currently a student at the Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, 22101, USA. Address correspondence to Yasmeen K. Mushtaq, 1029 Duchess Street, McLean, VA 22102, USA; E-mail: [email protected]