73 / 2021-06-30 15:35:40

ZnO NPs application increase the risk of pathogenic bacteria and affect the nutrient supply: A case study of potato planting

ZnO NPs, potato, growth and development, soil microorganisms, community structure

Abstract: In recent years, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely used in agriculture. However, limited information is available on the food safety and environmental consequence of ZnO NP exposure. Accordingly, in the present study, different concentrations of ZnO NPs (0, 50, and 800 mg·kg-1) were applied to potatoes, and ZnSO4 was used for comparison. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ZnO NPs on potato growth and soil microbial community structure and the increase of crop Zn concentration and potential environmental risks. and provide basis for the safety of ZnO NPs in agricultural application. ZnO NPs reduced the number of tubers but increased their size and significantly increased the Zn concentration of potato tissues. The X-ray diffraction test results of tubers treated with 50 mg·kg-1 ZnO NPs showed that ZnO NPs would not enter the potato plants. ZnO NPs did affect the relative percentage of soil bacterial and fungal communities but did not change the dominant groups, and the bacterial community was more affected than fungi, but ZnO NPs did not produce nano-specific toxicity. ZnO NPs may also affect the biological functions of beneficial bacteria, increase the risk of pathogenic bacteria, and may affect the nutrient absorption of potato plants.