Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Growth and Physiological Responses of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under Salt Stress

Abstract

Saline soil or water can highly affect plant physiological and biochemical responses including general disruption in the nutritional status of plants, osmotic stress, and ion-specific toxicity The rapid development and potential release of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have raised considerable concerns due to the unique properties of nanomaterials. Spinach is considered a model plant in hydroponic system production and is of research interest all over the world. In this study, we aim to study the physiological responses of spinach under different concentrations of both silver nanoparticles and salt stress. Spinach seedlings were exposed to 16 treatments asthreesalinity concentrations (4.0, 6.0, and 10.0 dS.m-1),three silver nanoparticles concentrations (20, 40, 60 ppm), nine treatments as combination of salinity and silver nanoparticles and control.Relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll content index (CCI),), dry weights (DW), leaf area (LA), and specific leaf area (SLA) of 41 days old spinach seedlings were examined and recorded for 6 weeks. The application of Silver nanoparticles had affected plant growth and altered many plant physiological responses. We concluded that silver nanoparticles might have positive effects on the physiological parameters but only under non-saline stress. However, it negatively impacts plants when it was added under saline conditions