In vitro Assessment of ZnO Nanoparticles on Phoenix dactylifera L. Micropropagation

(Khairullah M. Awad, Ahmed M. W. Al-Mayahi, Mazin A. Mahdi, Ahmed S.M. Al-Asadi, and Mohammed H. Abass)

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Abstract

Microbial contaminants are the major challenges in plant’s in vitro propagation during different stages of culture processes, ZnO-NPs exhibit attractive antibacterial properties due to increased specific surface area as the reduced particle size leading to enhanced particle surface reactivity. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of ZnO NPs on microbial contamination; vitrification and growth promoting of date palm cultured tissues. Several concentrations of ZnO NPs were selected to assess their activity. The percentage of shoot formation, the number of proliferated shoot and the percentage of contamination of cultures were investigated, as well as several biochemical characteristics. Twofold of increase multiplication rate of proliferated shoot was observed in ZnO NPs at 150 mg L−1 compared to control treatment. The multiplication rate was 46.6% at control and increased significantly to 86.67% and 93.34% in ZnO NPs before and after sterilisation, respectively. No microbial contamination and vitrification were observed at all ZnO NP treatments compared with control treatment. Biochemical analysis showed that ZnO NPs had no toxic effects at all examined concentrations on date palm cultured tissues. A positive effect was observed in carbohydrates, protein and amino acid accumulations at high ZnO concentration (150 mg l−1). The results provide basis for the application of ZnO NPs in media date palm tissue cultures at 150 mg l−1. Key Words: Micropropagaion, Nano biotechnology, Phytotoxicity, ZnO nanoparticles.
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