Ferrite nanoparticles possess magnetic properties and are therefore used in energy, medicine and electronics. The consequences of their use can be seen in soil pollution and industrial effluents and even organisms feel these negative effects. The generation of cobalt ions from ferrite nanoparticles has a negative impact on the growth and development of plants. The main objective of this dissertation was to determine how different concentrations of cobalt ferrite and cobalt chloride in solution affect the growth and development of a sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In a prior study, plants were grown in nutrient solution with different concentrations (1 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 100 mg/L) of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) and concentrations (1 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 100 mg/L) of cobalt ions in cobalt chloride (CoCl2) for two weeks. We measured the actual and potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) in plants. We separated roots and shoots from every group of plants and prepared them to quantify measure photosynthetic pigments. Fresh and dry mass were determined by weighing each sample. We analysed the obtained data using standard statistical methods. In our research, we established that in comparison with the control group, the treated plants were stressed as they had a lower photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), a lower dry mass and lower concentrations of chlorophyll a and b.
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