@Article{phyton.2020.013644,
AUTHOR = {Zi Yang, Shixian Fan, Xuehan Wei, Zhiming Zhang, Xin Gui, Yong Zhao},
TITLE = {Effects of Nano-Cerium Oxide on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of <i>Vitex negundo</i>},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {89},
YEAR = {2020},
NUMBER = {4},
PAGES = {893--903},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v89n4/40517},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs) are likely to have dramatic
impacts on plant performances, yet the effects of CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs on seed germination
and seedling growth have not been fully explored. In this study, the seed germination and seedling growth of subshrub species <i>Vitex negundo</i> under different
concentrations of CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs (low-1 mg/L, medium-100 mg/L, high-500 mg/L)
have been discussed. Results showed that: (1) The seed germination rate reduces
by 11.25% and 2.5% under the low and medium concentrations of CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs,
respectively, but increased by 7.08% under the high concentration; (2) CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs
had significant effects on the growth traits (root length, shoot height and biomass)
of seedlings, being the highest under the medium concentration and the lowest
under the highest concentration; (3) The superoxide dismutase activity was the
maximum (355.91 U/g), but the protein concentration was the minimum
(3.85 ug/mL) under the high concentration of CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs. Our results indicated that
the effects of CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs on seed germination and seedling growth are concentrationdependency, i.e., low and medium concentrations inhibited while high concentration promoted seed germination, however, seedling growth showed opposite
responses. Therefore, appropriate CeO<sub>2</sub>NPs concentrations are beneficial to
the seed germination and seedling growth of <i>Vitex negundo</i> and improve the
physiological performance of seedlings and enhance their adaptability to
environmental adversity.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2020.013644}
}