A synergistic combination of selenium nanoparticles, goldmine soil and water disrupt phytomorphological and biochemical parameters of Abelmuscus esculentus

Abstract

The combined influences of decommissioned goldmine soil (GS), goldmine water (GW), and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on Abelmuscus esculentus physiology, morphology, and biochemistry were investigated in this study. The SeNPs were mediated with bark extract of Cola nitida and characterized with UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM-EDX and XRD techniques. SeNPs were crystalline and absorbed maximally at 290 nm characteristic of SeNPs. As, Cd, Cr, Al, U and Th were found in both GS and GW, with GW containing higher levels than recommended by the WHO. Different soil compositions were used to grow A. esculentus seeds with varying amounts of control soil, control water, goldmine soil, and goldmine water with and without SeNPs. A. esculentus exposed to different soil compositions besides control (control soil + control water) showed significant reductions in antioxidant activity, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 concentrations, disruption of the cortex, xylem and pith, and inhibition of roots, shoots, and vigour indices. The further decline in A. esculentus physiological and biochemical characteristics by SeNPs implies their phytotoxicity. It is evidenced in this study that using goldmine soil and water simultaneously as practised by farmers in gold mining communities harms plant health and also public health.