Study on the growth of wheat seedlings under acetic acid ionic liquids [Cnmim][OAc] (n = 2, 4, 6)

Abstract

A transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the cellular structure of wheat leaf under the effects of ionic liquids (ILs). The mitochondrion, nucleus, chloroplast, and cell membrane were harmfully affected, which demonstrated that ILs influence the growth of plants by damaging their cellular structure, and as the alkyl chain increased, the toxicity of ionic liquids increased synchronously. In addition to the increased toxicity caused by extending the length of the alkyl chain, the lipophilicity and hydrophobicity of the ionic liquids were also magnified. When the cell membrane was damaged, the internal cellular structure was in turn destroyed.