Publication details
UPTAKE OF CdTe QUANTUM DOTS BY MAIZE SEEDLINGS: EFFECTS ON SEED GERMINANTION AND ASSOCIATED PARAMETERS
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Keywords | Cadmium toxicity; germination; oxidative stress; quantum dots synthesis; solvent; nanomedicine |
| Description | In this study, we prepared CdTe quantum dots using microwave synthesis method (300 W/4 min) and monitored the effect of CdTe on the germination of maize (Zea mays L.) at defined time intervals (24, 48, and 72 h). All experiments were standardized to a single concentration of cadmium (Cd; 100 mu M) and were carried out in three independent experiments (100 caryopses per variant, darkness, temperature 23 +/- 2 degrees C, humidity 55 +/- 5%). The potential effect of solvent on the germination was also studied. Germination was 58.4 +/- 6.1 % in the control variant (n = 3). Cd alone inhibited germination rate for 10 +/- 1.5%; whereas, 18 +/- 1.8 % and 14.8 +/- 1.6 % germination rates were recorded for CdTe QDs in distilled water and tap water, respectively. The germinative energy and coefficient velocity germination were concluded as the most sensitive parameters for determining the effect of CdTe QDs on Z. mays. |