As stated in ACS Nano journal, the carbon nanotubes enhance plant cell division and growth. The growth rate of plant cell cultures plays a vital role in the synthesis of sweeteners, lifesaving medications, dyes and perfumes.
Researchers led by Mariya V. Khodakovskaya, through their previous research showed that the professed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are capable of penetrating through the thick coatings on seeds, thereby stimulating its germination and growth. MWCNTs are small strands of pure carbon.
According to the scientists, novel discoveries will enable revolutionary practices in next-generation agriculture. Also, it will help meet some of the major challenges associated with plant growth and development.
A new research was conducted on the effect of MWCNTs on the growth of tobacco plant cell culture models. Plant cells of several plant species were grown in large industrial vats, the rapid growth of these living cells contributed to beneficial agricultural plants and also in the synthesis of medical and commercial products. The researchers determined that insignificant amounts of MWCNTs triggered the activity of genes responsible for cell growth. MWCNTs remain active by maintaining the active-state of channels, which aids the rapid division and growth of plant calls by transporting water across the cells.
As a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is a massive scientific society and globally established to pave way for conducting several chemistry-related research with the help of its scientific conferences, multiple databases and peer-reviewed journals. With over 164,000 staffs, it has its major offices at Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
Source: http://www.acs.org/