Impact of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Germination and Antioxidant System of Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedling under Cadmium Stress

Abstract

T􀀠is work aimed to investi􀀟ate t􀀠e impact of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on t􀀠e stress induced byCadmium (Cd) on 􀀟rain 􀀟ermination and antioxidant system of Maize (Zea mays L.) seedlin􀀟. Germination parameters(final 􀀟ermination percenta􀀟e (FGP), mean daily 􀀟ermination (MDG), coefficient of velocity of 􀀟ermination (CVG),mean 􀀟ermination time MGT, 􀀟ermination index (GI), 􀀟ermination stress tolerance index (GSI), seedlin􀀟 vi􀀟or index(SVI) as well as dry matter stress tolerance index (DMSI)), 􀀟rowt􀀠 parameters (s􀀠oot and root fres􀀠 and dry wei􀀟􀀠t),free radicals malondialde􀀠yde (MDA) and reduced 􀀟lutat􀀠ione (GSH) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC􀀛.􀀛5.􀀛.􀀛), 􀀟lutat􀀠ione reductases (GR, EC 􀀛.6.4.2), 􀀟lutat􀀠ione peroxidase (GPX, EC 􀀛.􀀛􀀛.􀀛.9) and catalase (CAT, EC􀀛.􀀛􀀛.􀀛.6) activities were investi􀀟ated. T􀀠e results indicated t􀀠at, addition of ZnO-NPs (5􀀚􀀚 m􀀟 L-􀀛) contribute a 􀀠i􀀟􀀠lyprotection from Cd toxicity via decrease Cd concentration, MGT, MDA and promotin􀀟 induction of MDG, CVG, GSI,SVI and DMSI, as well increasin􀀟 GSH, SOD, GR, CAT and GPX activities.