Copper nanowires as nanofertilizers for alfalfa plants: Understanding nano-bio systems interactions from microbial genomics, plant molecular responses and spectroscopic studies

Keni Cota-Ruiz; Yuqing Ye; Carolina Valdes; Chaoyi Deng; Yi Wang; José A Hernández-Viezcas; Maria Duarte-Gardea; Jorge L Gardea-Torresdey

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140572

Copper nanowires as nanofertilizers for alfalfa plants: Understanding nano-bio systems interactions from microbial genomics, plant molecular responses and spectroscopic studies

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Nov 10:742:140572. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140572. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Authors

Keni Cota-Ruiz¹, Yuqing Ye², Carolina Valdes³, Chaoyi Deng⁴, Yi Wang⁵, José A Hernández-Viezcas⁶, Maria Duarte-Gardea⁷, Jorge L Gardea-Torresdey⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; UC Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: acotaruiz@utep.edu.
² Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: yye@miners.utep.edu.
³ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: cvaldes3@miners.utep.edu.
⁴ Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: cdeng@miners.utep.edu.
⁵ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; UC Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: ywang10@miners.utep.edu.
⁶ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; UC Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: jahernandez19@utep.edu.
⁷ The University of Texas at El Paso, College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX 79902, USA. Electronic address: moduarte@utep.edu.
⁸ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; UC Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: jgardea@utep.edu.

PMID: 32623177
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140572

Abstract

The recent application of nano copper (Cu) compounds in the agrosystem has shown potential to improve the physiological performance and agronomical parameters of crops. We grew alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in potting mix amended with bulk, nano, and ionic Cu compounds at 80 and 280 mg Cu/kg; then, we evaluated plant performance at physiological and molecular levels. Plants treated with bulk/nano Cu presented better agronomical responses. The P and S content was reduced in bulk and ionic Cu-exposed plants, compared to controls (p ≤ .05). All Cu forms increased the content of Fe and Zn in roots and Fe in leaves, compared to controls (p ≤ .05). Leaf-superoxide dismutase expression was augmented ~27-fold and rubisco mRNA was unaffected in bulk/nano Cu-treated plants, compared to controls (p ≤ .05). Bulk/nano Cu incremented the relative abundance of microorganisms involved in the elemental uptake. These results indicate that nano Cu improved the physiology of alfalfa and can be considered as potential nanofertilizers.

Keywords: Microbial diversity; Nutrient element enhancement; PCR; Plant physiology improvement.

MeSH terms

Copper
Genomics
Medicago sativa
Metal Nanoparticles*
Nanowires*
Plant Roots

Substances

Copper