The responses of germinating seedlings of green peas to copper oxide nanoparticles

The effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) on germinating seedlings of green pea (Pisum sativum L.) were studied. The seedlings were grown in a half-strength Murashige and Skoog semisolid medium containing 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 500 mg dm(-3) CuONPs for 14 d under controlled growth chamber conditions. Exposures to 100, 200, 400, and 500 mg dm(-3) CuONPs significantly reduced plant growth (shoot and root lengths) and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation. Gene expression study using real-time polymerase chain reaction showed no significant change in the expression of genes coding CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in shoots. However in roots, a significant increase in the expression of the CuZnSOD gene was observed under the exposures to 100, 200, 400, and 500 mg dm(-3) CuONPs, in the expression of the CAT gene under 100 and 200 mg dm(-3) CuONPs, and in the expression of APX under 200 and 400 mg dm(-3) CuONPs.