Resumo: A germinação de sementes e o crescimento inicial de plântulas são sensíveis ao estresse hídrico no trigo. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, para estudar os impactos de nanopartículas de TiO2 (NPs de TiO2: 0, 500, 1000 e 2000 mg.L) e nitroprussiato de sódio (SNP: 0 e 100 μM), como NO doador, na germinação de sementes e no crescimento de plântulas de trigo sob estresse hídrico induzido por polietilenoglicol (PEG) (0, -0,4 e -0,8 MPa). Nossos resultados revelaram que o estresse hídrico estimulado por PEG reduziu significativamente a porcentagem de germinação (GP), energia de germinação (GE), taxa de germinação (GR), comprimento de raiz (RL), comprimento da parte aérea (SL), peso fresco da raiz (RFW) peso (SFW) e índice de vigor (VI), mas aumento do tempo médio de germinação (MGT) em sementes de trigo. No entanto, a aplicação de TiO2 NPs e SNP isoladamente ou em combinação aumentou significativamente GP, GE, GR, RL, SL, RFW, SFW e VI até 23,72%, 50%, 33,74%, 85,38%, 93,28%, 73%, 91,91 % e 91,04% respectivamente, mas reduziu significativamente o TGM até 28,36% sob estresse hídrico severo. Nossos resultados mostraram que a aplicação de NPs de TiO2 e SNP isoladamente ou em combinação pode aliviar significativamente os efeitos adversos da seca causada por PEG na germinação de sementes e no crescimento inicial de plântulas de trigo.

Abstract: Seed germination and early seedling growth are sensitive to drought stress in wheat. A factorial experiment was arranged based on a completely randomized design with three replicates to study the impacts of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs: 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg.L) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP: 0 and 100 μM), as NO donor, on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress (0, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa). Our results revealed that PEG-stimulated drought stress significantly decreased germination percentage (GP), germination energy (GE), germination rate (GR), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), root fresh weight (RFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW) and vigor index (VI) but increased mean germination time (MGT) in wheat seeds. However, application of TiO2 NPs and SNP alone or in combination significantly enhanced GP, GE, GR, RL, SL, RFW, SFW and VI up to 23.72%, 50%, 33.74%, 85.38%, 93.28%, 73%, 91.91% and 91.04% respectively, but significantly reduced MGT up to 28.36% under severe drought stress. Our results showed that application of TiO2 NPs and SNP alone or in combination can significantly alleviate the adverse effects of PEG-stimulated drought stress on seed germination and early seedling growth of wheat.

Abstract: MWCNTs (Multi-walled carbon nanotubes), as an important nanomaterial, enters the soil through various anthropogenic sources. Our understanding of MWCNTs effects on plant growth is still not complete and needs to be more studied. In this study, the possible effects of MWCNTs (500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg-1) and 100 μM exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP, as NO donor) on growth, physiological and photosynthetic performance of barley plants under 100 and 200 mM NaCl stress were investigated in greenhouse conditions. The most of physiological and photosynthesis characteristics of barley seedling negatively impressed when the plants were grown in different concentrations of NaCl. In the presence of SNP, 500 mg kg-1 dosage of MWCNTs significantly enhanced relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, photosynthesis parameters and growth indices. Also, MWCNTs-treated plants combined with 100 μM SNP showed higher antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and lower malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content under salinity stress. It is suggested that, MWCNTs in presence of SNP can greatly improve growth, as well as salt tolerance of barley plant by promoting water uptake, activities of antioxidant enzymes and photosynthesis performance.

Resumen Se investigó el efecto de nanopartículas de dióxido de titanio (TiO2 NPs) (0, 500, 1 000 and 2 000 mg/L) y nitroprusiato de sodio (SNP) (0 and 100 μM) como donador de óxido nítrico (NO), en la germinación de las semillas y el crecimiento de las plántulas de trigo bajo estrés por Cadmio (Cd) (0, 50 and 100 mM CdCl2). Se observaron tendencias decrecientes en los índices de germinación de las semillas de trigo expuestas a suspensiones de CdCl2. Estas tendencias fueron dependientes de la concentración, y más obvias ante alto estrés por Cd. El Nitroprusiato de Sodio exógeno (SNP) y las nanopartículas de TiO2 (NPs) afectaron positivamente la mayoría de los índices de germinación bajo condiciones normales y de estrés. En la mayoría de los casos, la aplicación combinada de suspensiones de TiO2 NPs y SNP incrementó la función estimulante de ambos componentes y moderó los efectos adversos de los tratamientos de Cd en la geminación de las semillas de trigo y el crecimiento de las plántulas. Con el tratamiento de 2000 mg/L TiO2 + SNP (100 μM) se registraron los mejores resultados en cuanto a los índices de germinación sometidos a bajo y alto estrés por Cd (50 and 100 mM CdCl2). En general, podría concluirse que la aplicación de TiO2 NPs en combinación con SNP podría ser una aproximación promisoria para contrarrestar los efectos adversos del estrés por Cd en la germinación de las semillas de trigo y en su crecimiento temprano.

Abstract Effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) (0, 500, 1 000 and 2 000 mg/L) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (0 and 100 μM) as nitric oxide (NO) donor, on wheat seed germination and seedling growth were investigated under cadmium (Cd) stress (0, 50 and 100 mM CdCl2). Concentration-dependent declining trends were observed in wheat germination indices upon seed exposure to CdCl2 suspensions which were more obvious under higher Cd stress. Exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) positively affected most germination indices under normal and stress conditions. In most cases, combined application of TiO2 NPs and SNP suspensions boosted stimulatory function of both compounds and moderated adverse effects of Cd treatments on wheat seed germination and seedling growth. 2 000 mg/L TiO2 + SNP (100 μM) treatment recorded the best results regarding most germination indices under lower and higher (50 and 100 mM CdCl2) Cd stress. Overall, it could be concluded that application of TiO2 NPs in combination with SNP might be a promising approach in counteracting the adverse effects of Cd stress on wheat seed germination and early growth.

Resumo Foram investigados os efeitos de nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio (TiO2 NPs) (0, 500, 1000 e 2000 mg/L) e nitroprussiato de sódio (SNP) (0 e 100 pM) como donadoras de óxido nítrico (NO) na germinação de sementes e no crescimento de plántulas de trigo sob estresse por cádmio (Cd) (0, 50 e 100 mM CdCl2). Se observaram tendências decrescentes nos índices de germinação de sementes de trigo expostas a suspensões de CdCl2. Essas tendências foram dependentes da concentração, sendo mais evidentes frente ao alto estresse por Cd. O nitroprussiato de sódio (SNP) e as nanopartículas de TiO2 (NPs) afetaram positivamente a maioria dos índices de germinação sob condições normais e de estresse. Na maioria dos casos, a aplicação combinada de suspensões de TiO2 NPs e SNP aumentou a função estimulante de ambos componentes e moderou os efeitos adversos dos tratamentos de Cd na germinação de semestres de trigo e no crescimento das plántulas. Com o tratamento de 2 000 mg/L TiO2 + SNP (100 μM) se registraram os melhores resultados em quanto aos índices de germinação submetidos a baixo e alto estresse por Cd (50 e 100 mM CdCl2). De modo geral, se pode concluir que a aplicação de TiO2 NPs em combinação com SNP poderia ser uma aproximação promissora para combater os efeitos adversos do estresse por Cd na germinação de sementes de trigo e no seu crescimento inicial.

Abstract Aims: Cross-training is the process whereby training of one limb gives rise to enhancements in the performance of the opposite, untrained limb and may be dependent on type of muscle contractions performed. The aim of this study was to investigate whether unilateral resistance training using eccentric contraction is more effective than concentric resistance training to improve time to task failure in the contralateral untrained limb. Methods:Subjects completed 12 weeks of resistance training consisting of 36 sessions, using unilateral leg exercise. Sustained isometric knee extension performed at 50% of maxmal force until task failure for the contralateral untrained leg. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were simultaneously recorded from contralateral untrained quadriceps (vastusmedialis, rectus femoris, and vastuslateralis). Results: Time to task failure of the contralateraluntrained leg and associated EMG activitiessignificantly increased after 12 weeks ofunilateral resistance training(p<0.05). However, percent increase in time to task failure and EMG amplitude after eccentric resistance training was significantly higher than concentric resistance training (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that unilateral eccentric resistancetraining is superior to concentric resistance training to increase time to task failure in the contralateral untrained limb.