Effects of ceria nanoparticles and CeCl3 on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters of corn (Zea mays) plants grown in soil

Abstract The release of toxic ions from metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) may play an important role in biological effects of NPs. In this life cycle study, physiological and biochemical responses of soil-grown corn (Zea mays) plants exposed to ceria NPs and its ionic counterparts Ce3+ ions at 0, 25, 75 and 225 mg Ce/kg were investigated. Both treatments tended to reduce the fresh weight and height of the plants at 28 days after sowing (DAS), and delay silk appearance and finally decrease fruit weight at harvest. Uptake and distribution of some miner nutrients, Ca, P, Fe, B, Zn and Mn in the plants were disturbed. None of the treatments significantly affected activities of antioxidant enzymes and MDA contents in the roots and leaves at 28 DAS. At 90 DAS, ceria NPs and Ce3+ ions disturbed the homeostasis of antioxidative systems in the plants, Ce3+ ion at all concentrations provoked significant oxidative damage in the roots and significantly increased MDA levels as compare to the control. The results indicate that the effects of ceria NPs and Ce3+ ions on corn plants varied with different growth stages and ceria NPs had similar but less severe impacts than Ce3+ ions. Speciation analysis revealed there was mutual transformation between CeO2 and Ce3+ in the soil-plant system. It is speculated that Ce3+ ions play a key role in toxicity. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a life cycle study on comparative toxicity of CeO2 NPs and Ce3+ ions on corn plants.