Carbon nanotubes are able to penetrate plant seed coat and dramatically affect seed germination and plant growth

Mariya Khodakovskaya; Enkeleda Dervishi; Meena Mahmood; Yang Xu; Zhongrui Li; Fumiya Watanabe; Alexandru S Biris

doi:10.1021/nn900887m

Carbon nanotubes are able to penetrate plant seed coat and dramatically affect seed germination and plant growth

ACS Nano. 2009 Oct 27;3(10):3221-7. doi: 10.1021/nn900887m.

Authors

Mariya Khodakovskaya¹, Enkeleda Dervishi, Meena Mahmood, Yang Xu, Zhongrui Li, Fumiya Watanabe, Alexandru S Biris

Affiliation

¹ Department of Applied Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, USA. mvkhodakovsk@ualr.edu

PMID: 19772305
DOI: 10.1021/nn900887m

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were found to penetrate tomato seeds and affect their germination and growth rates. The germination was found to be dramatically higher for seeds that germinated on medium containing CNTs (10-40 mug/mL) compared to control. Analytical methods indicated that the CNTs are able to penetrate the thick seed coat and support water uptake inside seeds, a process which can affect seed germination and growth of tomato seedlings.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

Biomass
Fertilizers
Germination / drug effects*
Nanotubes, Carbon*
Seeds / drug effects*
Seeds / growth & development*
Seeds / metabolism
Solanum lycopersicum / drug effects*
Solanum lycopersicum / growth & development*
Solanum lycopersicum / metabolism
Water / metabolism

Substances

Fertilizers
Nanotubes, Carbon
Water