The interaction between titanium dioxide nanoparticles and light can have dualistic effects on the physiological responses of plants

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 31; no. 9; pp. 13706 - 13721
• Main Authors: Orzechowska, Aleksandra, Szymańska, Renata, Sarna, Michał, Żądło, Andrzej, Trtílek, Martin, Kruk, Jerzy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Chloroplasts; Combined stress; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Energy dissipation; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Exposure; Light; Light effects; Membrane elasticity; Nanoparticles; Photochemicals; Photosynthesis - physiology; Photosystem II; Photosystem II Protein Complex - metabolism; Physiological effects; Physiological responses; Research Article; Thermal imaging; Thermal response; Titanium; Titanium - metabolism; Titanium dioxide; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; High light; Photosynthetic efficiency; Light-induced thermal kinetics; Joint stress factors; Arabidopsis; Titanium dioxide nanoparticles
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31970-6
• EISSN: 1614-7499
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344

The model plant
Arabidopsis thaliana
was exposed to combined stress factors, i.e., titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiNPs) and high light. The concentrations of TiNPs used for irrigation were 250, 500, and 1000 μg/mL. This study shows that TiNPs alter the morphology and nanomechanical properties of chloroplasts in
A. thaliana
, which leads to a decrease in membrane elasticity. We found that TiNPs contributed to a delay in the thermal response of
A. thaliana
under dynamic light conditions, as revealed by non-invasive thermal imaging. The thermal time constants of TiNP-treated plants under excessive light are determined, showing a shortening in comparison to control plants. The results indicate that TiNPs may contribute to an alleviation of temperature stress experienced by plants under exposure to high light. In this research, we observed a decline in photosystem II photochemical efficiency accompanied by an increase in energy dissipation upon exposure to TiNPs. Interestingly, concentrations exceeding 250 µg/mL TiNPs appeared to mitigate the effects of high light, as shown by reduced differences in the values of specific OJIP parameters (
F
V
/
F
M
,
ABS
/
RC
,
DI
0
/
RC
, and
Pi_Abs
) before and after light exposure.