TMA-OH COATED MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES INTERNALIZED IN VEGETAL TISSUE

The present experimental investigation was focused on the study of assimilatory pigments and nucleic acid levels in young plants intended for agricultural use (the popcorn) in presence of water-ferrofluid in culture medium. The water-ferrofluid was constituted by coating the small ferrophase particles with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and further dispersion in water. After germination, daily supply with 15 mL ferrofluid aqueous suspension per dish of sample was carried out for 12 days during plant growth. Small concentrations of aqueous ferrofluid solution added in culture medium had a stimulating effect on the growth of the plantlets, while the enhanced concentrations of aqueous ferrofluid solution induced an inhibitory effect. We have noticed that toxicity symptoms led to brown spots covering the leaf surface for the enhanced concentrations of aqueous ferrofluid solution added by us in the plants culture medium in this experiment. The iron excess treatment is believed to generate oxidative stress in leaf cells. In this case, photosynthesis might be greatly affected leading to decrease of the metabolic process rate. Key words: magnetite nanoparticles, popcorn plants growth, photoassimilatory pigments, nucleic acids