Date of Graduation

Summer 2019

Degree

Master of Science in Chemistry

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Chair

Cyren Rico

Abstract

The impacts of generational exposure to engineered nanomaterial on grain quality are poorly documented. This study was performed on wheat grains harvested from plants grown in soil amended with cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) at the 2nd and 3rd generations. Third generation experiment was performed at low and high nitrogen (N) soil levels. The goal was to investigate changes in grain fatty acid and elemental contents due to parental exposure (C1 vs T1 in 2nd generation, C1C2 vs T1T2 in 3rd generation) or current generation exposure (C2 vs T2 in 2nd generation, C3 vs T3 in 3rd generation); C = control (0 mg nCeO2/kg soil), T = treated (500 mg nCeO2/kg soil); 1 = first generation, 2 = second generation, and 3 = third generation. Fatty acid (FA) analysis was performed in 2nd and 3rd generation grains while elemental analysis was done in third generation grains only. All data were subjected to a two-way ANOVA to determine statistical significance of parental exposure or current generation exposure. The results showed that parental exposure at T1 increased the concentrations of most FA while generational exposure T1T2 at high N only increased linoleic and total fatty acids. Also at high N, T1T2 decreased elemental contents (P, Mg, K, Mn, Fe) even without changes in their concentrations. At low N soil, current exposure to nCeO2 at 3rd generation (T3) affected uptake of few elements (e.g. P, Mn, Fe) while current exposure at 2nd and 3rd generations consistently decreased myristic acid concentration. These findings showed that parent life-history could affect grain quality depending on soil N.

Keywords

grains, generational, soil nitrogen level, fatty acid, elemental nutrient, and content

Subject Categories

Analytical Chemistry | Chemistry | Environmental Chemistry

Copyright

© Oluwasegun Michael Abolade

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