Evaluation of phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles in Vicia faba

Due to the accelerating use of manufactured nanomaterials, more research is needed to define their impact on plants. The present investigation aimed at evaluating the effect of different levels (0.0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L) of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on Vicia faba during seed germination and seedling establishment. Additionally, V. faba root meristems were used as a model to monitor the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects resulting from exposure to ZnO NPs. The influence of ZnO NPs on three isoenzyme systems, peroxidase, alpha, and beta esterase, was also evaluated using native-PAGE. Our results showed that lower concentrations of ZnO NPs (especially 10 and 25 mg/L) enhanced seed germination and improved seedling growth, while higher concentrations (100 and 200 mg/L) resulted in phytotoxicity. Cytological investigations of ZnO NPs-treated V. faba root cells denoted the clastogenic and aneugenic nature of ZnO NPs. Differential increase in mitotic index and significant alterations in cell cycle were observed upon exposure to ZnO NPs. High concentrations of ZnO NPs markedly induced chromosomal aberration, micronuclei, and vacuolated nuclei formation. Chromosomal breakage, chromosomal bridges, ring chromosomes, laggard chromosomes, and stickiness were also observed at a higher rate. The PAGE analysis showed that ZnO NPs treatments altered the expression patterns of all studied enzyme systems. Collectively, results from this work will help to further understand the phytotoxic effects of nanomaterials.