Hematite nanoparticles influence ultrastructure, antioxidant defenses, gene expression, and alleviate cadmium toxicity in Zea mays

Abstract

The present study describes the response of Zea mays to hematite nanoparticles (NPs) using five concentrations ranged from 500 to 8000 mg kg−1, and Cd2+ concentrations (110 or 130 mg kg−1 Cd2+) only or combined with 500 mg kg−1 NPs, using soil culture. The endpoints measured were root/shoot growth, elements uptake, ultra-structural alterations, lipid peroxidation, some antioxidant enzyme activities, and their relative gene expressions. The results indicated that hematite NPs exhibited a dual behavior, in which 500 mg kg−1 NPs significantly enhanced maize growth, while 4000 and 8000 mg kg−1 NPs significantly increased lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity displaying positive correlation with SOD expression in shoots (r = +0.472, p