The advancements in the field of nanotechnology have resulted in so many innovative and ingenious developments. One such development was seen at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Nanotechnology Center. Researchers here have found a technique to make tomato plants sprout earlier and grow faster. In this process, tomato seeds are exposed to carbon nanotubes that increase the germination percentage and support and enhance the growth of seedlings. The carbon nanaotubes are able to penetrate the thick seed coat to support water uptake inside the seeds.
The study suggests that the use of carbon nanotubes could improve the agriculture and biofuel industries significantly, while making way for new variety of fertilizers. Though, it is too early to point out its negative aspects, but carbon nanotube usage could lead to unintended consequences. Some experiments were performed to check what ill effects these long, cylindrical structures could lead to.
In one such study, single-walled nanotubes were found to be toxic to fruit flies, while another showed that multilayered nanotubes, the kind used in the tomato-plant study, have the same carcinogenic effects as asbestos in the lungs of mice.
Via: TechnologyReview