Developmental and biochemical responses of Phaseolus vulgaris L. to Aluminum oxide nano-particles treatment

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of Aluminum oxide nano-particles on seed germination, root length, and the amounts of photosynthetic pigments, total protein content, and changes in activity of some antioxidant enzymes and carbohydrates content in Phaseolus vulgaris.
Material and Experiment was performed under greenhouse conditions and completely randomized designed with four replications. Plants were exposed to different concentrations (0.01, 0.5 and 1 g/L) of nano-Aluminum oxide and the physiological and biochemical characteristics of treated plants were compared with control ones.
The results showed that treatment by Aluminium oxide nano-particles had a positive impact on the seed germination, root length, total chlorophyll and chlorophyll b content and also sugar content. Decrease in the content of chlorophyll a, protein and catalase activity was observed in the treated plants in comparison to control. Aluminium oxide nano-particle didn’t have a significant effect on seed germination speed and peroxidase activity.
Based on the results of this study, nano-particles are able to have a positive effect on some developmental and physiological characteristics of Phaseolus vulgaris L. This indicated that applied nano-particles are not toxic in the used concentrations. Decreasing in characteristics (chlorophyll a, total protein and catalase activity) was observed that could be related to plant resistance.