Bigger Tomatoes with Carbon Nanotubes?
By Vanessa Richins
Carbon nanotubes are usually discussed in the physical sciences.
However, a new study focused on whether carbon nanotubes could be used as a fertilizer for tomato plants.
As A Carbon Nanotube Page explains, “Carbon nanotubes are molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon with outstanding properties. They are among the stiffest and strongest fibres known, and have remarkable electronic properties and many other unique characteristics.”
The researchers began by planting tomato seeds in two different mediums – one containing the carbon nanotubes, and the other without, as a control group. Surprisingly, as PhysOrg.com reports, about one third of the seeds were already germinating by the third day. It took 12 days for the same amount of control group seeds to germinate.
As the experiment continued they found that after a month of growth, the seeds grown in nanotube medium were twice as tall as the control group. They also had twice the mass.
Carbon nanotubes aren’t without their problems, though, especially when used in something like tomatoes. Previous studies on mice and nanotubes showed toxic effects, so it is unknown if they would be ultimately safe for human consumption. The tomato plants also produced internodes (the spaces between the nodes, or leaf joints) that were longer than usual.
I have the same concerns with this as I do with genetic modification. We still don’t have enough data to verify that food produced through these methods is truly safe. Perhaps research will eventually show that they are. In the meantime, I think I’ll stick with the idea of conventional tomato growing.
