Kinetic absorption of Ce nanoparticle by soybean plant

• Grant number: 18/26249-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: February 28, 2019
• End date: June 27, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
• Grantee: Eduardo Santos
• Supervisor: Rafael Mattos dos Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Guelph, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/16375-4 - Effects of foliar application of La and Ce on soybean, BP.MS

Abstract

Cerium is the main rare earth element (REE) used in agricultural context. It has been reported to promote photosynthesis and enhance carboxylation efficiency for soybean seedling after Ce spraying, and additionally controlling some features of its photosynthesis under UV-B stress. In addition to soluble forms, there is an increasing interest on REE nanoparticles. Some indicate benefic results while other show toxic effects. Since for nano CeO2 the availability of Ce ions is lower than in nitrate, we decided to explore it as a strategy for the slow release of Ce ions to soybean plants. Thus, the aims of this project are: i) Determine Ce concentration on shoot of plants; ii) Perform kinetic studies to measure the Ce uptake rate; and iii) Investigate whether the accumulated Ce is found in dissolved or particulate structure. For this purpose, we will use the Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) characterization technique. It is used to investigate nanoparticles, allowing measurement of their concentration, size, size distribution, and providing information on nanoparticle formation or dissolution. This proposal is a collaboration with the Assistant Professor Dr. Rafael M. Santos in Environmental Engineering at the University of Guelph. (AU)