Wednesday, November 7, 2007
322-4

Influence of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Physiology, Growth and Yield of Wheat.

Sudha Pisipati, P. V. V Prasad, Mb Kirkham, and Charles W. Rice. Kansas State University, 2004, Throckmoton Plant Sciences Center, Manhattan, KS 66506

In the recent years there has been a wide spread use of nanoparticles, yet is no information available on the impact of these nanoparticles on plants. The present experiment was conducted to quantify the impact of nanoparticles on physiology, growth and yield of wheat. Spring wheat cultivar (Seri-82) was grown under controlled environment greenhouse in pots filled with sand. The pots were treated with either macro or nano-size particles of six different metal oxides (magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, cerium oxide and titanium oxide) at four concentrations (low, medium, high and toxic) based on scientific literature. There were four replications for each treatment in randomized block design. Data on phenology (time to panicle emergence, flowering and maturity), physiological traits (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf chlorophyll content) were measured at frequent intervals. At maturity, numbers of tillers and ears, shoot dry weight, spikelet fertility (proportion of filled to total grains per ear), seed-size and seed yield were determined. The results of various treatments will be presented and discussed.