Evaluation of SiO2 Nanoparticles Effects on Seed Germination in Astragalus squarrosus

Improving seed germination rate accelerates early seedling establishment, in turn, enhances plant growth and forage production in rangelands and pastures. Rapid and simultaneous germination of seeds leads to successful plant establishment. The ingoing research aims to deals with effect of SiO2 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0, 5, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/l on seed germination rate in Astragalus squarrosus. The experiment was conducted for 15 days under constant temperature of 20 °C, 16 h of light and 8 hours dark. The treatments were arranged as factorial based on a completely randomized design with four replicates in Department of Natural Resources at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The results of experiment showed that the germination percentage of scarified seeds treated with SiO2 nanoparticles with 40ppm concentration was improved compared to control seeds and non-scarified ones treated with nanoparticles. At the same time, some other positive effects of other nanoparticle concentrations on germination rate and percent were obvious so that the effect of different concentrations of nanoparticles on seed germination traits Astragalus squarrosus was found to be significant. The highest and lowest germination percentage was recorded under concentration of 40 ppm and 80 ppm those seeds treated with nanoparticles, respectively. As SiO2 concentration increased, no enhancing positive effect on seed germination attributes of Astragalus squarrosus was found. In this experiment, it was found that seeds scarified and treated with 40 or 60 mg/l of SiO2 nanoparticles showed improved germination in Astragalus squarrosus , so this treatment can be promising for establishment and colonization of this species in natural landscapes.