Improving the salinity tolerance in potato (Solanum tuberosum) by exogenous application of silicon dioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting potato growth and productivity in semi-arid and growing zones. An increase in salt tolerance by selecting superior potato cultivars using new biotechnology approaches and application of nanomaterial could improve the productivity and profitability of potato. In this study, two cultivars of potato were exposed to different treatments of NaCl at 50 and 100 mM and SiO2-NPs at 50 and 100 mg L-1 under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. After 35 and 90 days of treatment, different growth parameters, protein analysis and antioxidant enzyme activities were examined. Addition of NaCl to the medium induced a significant decrease in most growth traits in comparison to control and SiO2-NPs treatments with higher NaCl concentration (100 mM) having a more adverse effect on growth. Inclusion of different concentrations of SiO2-NPs to the medium reduced the deleterious effect of salinity, which was more pronounced at 50 mg L-1 SiO2-NPs than at 100 mg L-1. A protein band was observed (22.39 kDa) which can be considered as positive marker for salt stress in cv. Sante and a novel band (70.412 kDa) corresponded to damaging mechanisms as a result of toxic effects in cv. Proventa. Cultivar Proventa was less affected by salt stress than cv. Sante. In conclusion application of SiO2-NPs at 50 mg L-1 is the optimum dose to enhance and help improving in vitro plant growth and mitigating the negative effects of salinity in potato.