Effect of SiO2 NPS nanoparticles on morphophysiological characteristics of Pinus nigra under drought stress

Exploitation and use of new technologies for improving of deleterious effects of drought stress are of great importance. An experiment was operated on Pinus nigra in order to investigate the effects of silicon (SiO2) (SNPs) nanoparticles on declining the deleterious effects of water stress. Nanoparticles spraying with 0, 10, 30, 60 and 100 ppm were applied every week for five months on the leaves of seedlings irrigated based on field capacity in the intervals of 4, 6 and 8 days. Applying SiO2 NPs increased height growth, water potential, relative water content and decreased electrolyte leakage. The increased SiO2 improved aboveground biomass and root length of seedlings as affected by drought stress. In general, it can be deduced that in this study the use of silicon nanoparticles, especially concentrations of 60 and 100 mgr/l, induces growth and physiological activities of Pinus nigra seedlings under drought stress.