The Genotoxic Effect of ZnO and CuO Nanoparticles on Early Growth of Buckwheat, Fagopyrum Esculentum

Many airborne and soil-borne nanoparticles (NPs) can enter plants, which are the primary producers in the food chain; recently, studies on the genotoxic effects of NPs on plants are emerging. In the present study, the phytotoxic and genotoxic effects of ZnO and CuO NPs on buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum ) seedlings were estimated. The inhibition of root growth and biomass at the tested concentrations of NP suspensions and dissolved free ion suspensions were compared. Changes in root morphological features and localization of NPs inside the root epidermis cells were observed. Growth of root treated with ZnO NPs (84.9 and 89.6 %) and CuO NPs (75.4 and 80.1 %) at 2,000 and 4,000 mg L −1 , respectively, was decreased significantly than control. The root morphological features and NP incorporation into the root epidermal cells at a high dose of NP showed completely different patterns compared to those for the controls. Through random amplified polymorphic DNA assays for comparison of the effect of ZnO and CuO NPs on DNA stability, it was shown as different DNA polymorphisms at 2,000 and 4,000 mg L −1 of ZnO and CuO NPs, compared to those for controls. Our results provide the first clue to the genotoxic effects of ZnO and CuO NPs on early growth of edible plants such as buckwheat.