Photosynthesis governed by nanoparticulate titanium dioxide. The Pisum sativum L. case study

Elżbieta Skiba; Monika Pietrzak; Sylwia Michlewska; Jakub Gruszka; Julita Malejko; Beata Godlewska-Żyłkiewicz; Wojciech M Wolf

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122735

Photosynthesis governed by nanoparticulate titanium dioxide. The Pisum sativum L. case study

Environ Pollut. 2024 Jan 1;340(Pt 2):122735. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122735. Epub 2023 Oct 15.

Authors

Elżbieta Skiba¹, Monika Pietrzak², Sylwia Michlewska³, Jakub Gruszka⁴, Julita Malejko⁴, Beata Godlewska-Żyłkiewicz⁴, Wojciech M Wolf²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Poland. Electronic address: elzbieta.skiba@p.lodz.pl.
² Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Poland.
³ Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Laboratory of Microscopic Imaging and Specialized Biological Techniques, University of Lodz, Poland.
⁴ Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Poland.

PMID: 37848082
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122735

Abstract

Wide availability of anthropogenic TiO₂ nanoparticles facilitates their penetration into environment and prompts interactions with plants. They alter plants growth and change their nutritional status. In particular, metabolic processes are affected. In this work the effect of nanometric TiO₂ on photosynthesis efficiency in green pea (Pisum sativum L.) was studied. Hydroponic cultivations with three Ti levels (10; 50 and 100 mg L^-1) were applied. At all concentrations nanoparticles penetrated into plant tissues and were detected by the single particle ICP-MS/MS method. Nanoparticles altered the CO₂ assimilation rate and gas exchange parameters (i.e. transpiration, stomatal conductance, sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration). The most pronounced effects were observed for Ti 50 mg L^-1 cultivation where photosynthesis efficiency, transpiration and stomatal conductance were increased by 14.69%, 4.58% and 8.92%, respectively. They were further confirmed by high maximum ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation rate (27.40% increase), maximum electron transport rate (21.51% increase) and the lowest CO₂ compensation point (45.19% decrease). Furthermore, concentrations of Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Mg, Ca, K and P were examined with the most pronounced changes observed for elements directly involved in photosynthesis (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe). The Cu concentrations in roots, stems and leaves for Ti 50 mg L^-1 cultivation were below the control by 33.15%, 38.28% and 10.76%, respectively. The Zn content in analogous treatment and organs decreased by 30.24%, 26.69% and 13.35%. The Mn and Fe levels in leaves were increased by 72.22% and 50.32%, respectively. Our results indicated that plant defence mechanisms which restrain the water uptake have been overcome in pea by photocatalytic activity of nanoparticulate TiO₂ which stimulated photosynthesis. On the contrary to the substantial stomatal conductance, the transpiration has been reduced because exceptional part of water flow was already consumed in chloroplasts and could not have been freed to the atmosphere.

Keywords: Nanoparticles migration; Nutrients uptake; Pea; Photosynthesis; Titanium dioxide nanoparticles; spICP-MS/MS.

MeSH terms

Carbon Dioxide*
Photosynthesis
Pisum sativum*
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Water

Substances

titanium dioxide
Carbon Dioxide
Water