Abstract
The current study explores the potential impact of seed priming with silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs, 0, 100, 200, 500 mg/L) and silicate (Si, 0, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/L) under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress (0, −0.5, −1, and −1.5 MPa, respectively, control, mild, moderate and severe drought stress) on germination features and vigor index of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). The study was performed in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, application of SiNPs at high level in seeds subjected to the severe drought stress clearly revealed the greater deposition of SiNPs on root cell walls compared to the mild or moderate drought stress. The cumulative germination in response to various concentrations of Si and SiNPs showed different germination patterns under drought stress intensities. Two-way interaction of SiNPs and drought stress significantly (P < 0.01) affected the mean germination time only, however, interaction of Si and drought stress significantly influenced germination rate (P < 0.05) and germination index (P < 0.01). The vigor index (VI) based on seedlings length (SL) and dry weight (DW) at 14 days after planting were significantly higher in Si- and SiNPs-treated seeds at 2 and 500 mg/L compared to the other treatments, respectively. In both Si and SiNPs treatments, VI-SL and VI-DW showed positive and significant correlation (r0.01 = 0.737 and r0.01 = 0.859) and (r0.01 = 0.639 and r0.01 = 0.821) with germination percentage under drought stress, respectively. These findings will open the opportunity of using Si and SiNPs as priming agents to enhance seed germination and improve seedling growth under water deficit stress.
Zusammenfassung
Die aktuelle Studie untersucht die potenziellen Auswirkungen der Saatgutvorbereitung mit Silizium-Nanopartikeln (SiNPs, 0, 100, 200, 500 mg/L) und Silikat (Si, 0, 1, 1,5, 2 mg/L) unter Polyethylenglykol (PEG)-induziertem Trockenstress (0, −0,5, −1 und −1,5 MPa, jeweils Kontrolle, leichter, mäßiger und schwerer Trockenstress) auf die Keimfähigkeit und den Vitalitätsindex von Ringelblumen (Calendula officinalis L.). Die Studie wurde in einem faktoriellen Experiment auf der Grundlage eines vollständig randomisierten Designs (CRD) mit vier Wiederholungen durchgeführt. Die rasterelektronenmikroskopische Analyse (SEM) ergab, dass die Anwendung von SiNPs in hoher Konzentration in Samen, die schwerem Trockenstress ausgesetzt waren, eindeutig eine stärkere Ablagerung von SiNPs an den Wurzelzellwänden zur Folge hatte als bei leichtem oder mäßigem Trockenstress. Die kumulative Keimung als Reaktion auf verschiedene Konzentrationen von Si und SiNPs zeigte unterschiedliche Keimungsmuster unter Trockenstressintensitäten. Die Zwei-Wege-Interaktion von SiNPs und Trockenstress wirkte sich signifikant (P < 0,01) nur auf die mittlere Keimzeit aus, die Interaktion von Si und Trockenstress beeinflusste jedoch signifikant die Keimrate (P < 0,05) und den Keimungsindex (P < 0,01). Der Vitalitätsindex (VI), der auf der Länge der Keimlinge (SL) und dem Trockengewicht (DW) 14 Tage nach der Aussaat basiert, war bei Si- und SiNPs-behandeltem Saatgut bei 2 bzw. 500 mg/L signifikant höher als bei den anderen Behandlungen. Sowohl bei der Si- als auch bei der SiNPs-Behandlung zeigten VI-SL und VI-DW eine positive und signifikante Korrelation (r0,01 = 0,737 und r0,01 = 0,859) bzw. (r0,01 = 0,639 und r0,01 = 0,821) mit dem Keimungsprozentsatz unter Trockenstress. Diese Ergebnisse eröffnen die Möglichkeit, Si und SiNPs zu verwenden, um die Keimung von Samen und das Wachstum von Keimlingen unter Wasserdefizitstress zu verbessern.
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This research was funded by Arak University, Iran (Project ID: 9532/5327). The authors are highly thankful to Arak University for financial support of this study.
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S. Rahimi, M. Hatami and M. Ghorbanpour declare that they have no competing interests.
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Rahimi, S., Hatami, M. & Ghorbanpour, M. Silicon-nanoparticle Mediated Changes in Seed Germination and Vigor Index of Marigold (Calendula Officinalis L.) Compared to Silicate Under PEG-induced Drought Stress. Gesunde Pflanzen 73, 575–589 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-021-00579-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-021-00579-x