The widespread application of copper oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) results in ecological risk when nanoparticles enter the environment. This study clarifies the mechanism of nCuO toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings via comparison with copper (Cu) ion bioeffects. Under the same culture conditions, Cu2+ ion exposure exerted a stronger inhibitory effect on plant fresh weight and growth and caused stronger oxidative disruption (measured by malondialdehyde, MDA) than nCuO exposure. The Cu2+ ions also showed a stronger induction effect than did nCuO on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the transcription of antioxidant-related genes. Dissolved Cu2+ ions contributed a minority of the toxicity of nCuO, implying that nCuO itself showed relative strong phytotoxicity. The work presented here will help increase our understanding of the toxicity of metal nanoparticles in plants.
Keywords: Antioxidant gene; Arabidopsis thaliana; Copper oxide nanoparticle (nCuO); Phytotoxicity.