Effects of TiO2 nanoparticles and water-deficit stress on morpho-physiological characteristics of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) plants

• Published in: Acta agriculturae slovenica Vol. 107; no. 2; pp. 385 - 396
• Main Authors: Mohammadi, Hamid, Esmailpour, Mohammad, GHERANPAYE, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) 2016
• Subjects: aromatic plants; drought stress; malondialdehyde; reactive oxygen species; TiO2NPs
• ISSN: 1854-1941; 1854-1941
• DOI: 10.14720/aas.2016.107.2.11

Water-deficit stress is the most important environmental factors limiting plant growth, and production. Nano-titanium dioxide (nano anataseTiO2) can have various profound effects on the crop physiological, biochemical and morphological characteristics. In the present research, the influences of different concentrations ofTiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) (0, 10 and 40 ppm) and water-deficit stress on Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) were investigated in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that under normal irrigation, foliar application of 10 ppm TiO2 NPs increased plant shoot dry mass and essential oils content. Under water-deficit stress condition, plants treated with 10 ppm TiO2 NPs had more proline and much less H2O2 and malondialdehyde content as compared to untreated plants. Therefore, it can be concluded that proper concentration of TiO2 NPs probably can be used as an exogenous stimuli for improvement of shoot growth and essential oil content in plants. Furthermore, water-deficit stress-induced damages such as oxidative stress and membrane damage can be ameliorated by foliar application of TiO2 NPs at appropriate concentrations.