Understanding the Effect of the Interaction of Nanoparticles with Roots on the Uptake in Plants

Abstract

The wide expansion of nanotechnology in consumers, industrial, medical, and food products has raised a concern over the scientific community regarding their potential risk to human and the environment. Plant root is exposed to these nanoparticles (NPs) through sludge application and wastewater irrigation processes. The behavior and interaction of NPs in the soil, pore water, and rhizosphere play an important and central role in governing uptake. To this end, the current work critically reviewed the behavior of NPs in soil and root environment and tried to understand the effect of interaction on uptake and the possible pathways for NP uptake in edible plants. In addition, the current knowledge gaps in the current perspective on NP and soil interaction, NP-root interaction, etc. had been compiled after conducting the literature survey. The review of literature indicated that knowledge gaps exist for the following components: (1) size of nanoparticles in soil, (2) mobility of NPs in soil, (3) aggregation in pore water and root, (4) change in surface charge in pore water and root environment, (5) effect of type of nanoparticle on uptake in edible plants, (6) type of plant on NP uptake, (7) mechanism of NP uptake in plants, and (8) multiple generational effects on NPs in plants. Based on the available literature, more studies on exposure of NPs to edible plants in environmentally relevant conditions are recommended. In addition, a multidisciplinary integrated approach to understand soil-nanoparticle-plant nexus is needed. The uptake of NPs in edible plants is directly dependent on its interaction with soil and root zone of plants. Therefore, this review highlighted on the status of knowledge, identified important data gaps, and suggested future research directions.