Effect of seed pretreatment with carbon nanotubes on growth performance of two wild pistachio species (P .khinjuk Stocks & Pistacia atlantica Desf)

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes on morphological traits of two wild pistachio species and compare them with common treatments including cold and acid sulfuric 65% in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and 10 replicates. The results showed that application of carbon nanotubes with concentrations of 25 and 75 mg / L significantly improved the morphological and biomass traits of the two species of wild pistachio including (Pistacia atlantica Desf ) and (P. khinjuk Stocks) in comparison with the acid and cold treatments. The highest increase in root, stem height and collar diameter was observed in the 25 mg / L treatment. The highest root length and dry and fresh root biomass were observed in Khinjuk under 75 mg/L nano carbon treatment. The highest concentration of leaf magnesium was observed in P. atlantica after 10 and in P. Khinjuk after 100 mg/L treatments. The phosphorus content in leaves of the two wild pistachio species was stable under the all treatments. The leaf potassium in P. atlantica was the highest under 10, 25, and 50 mg/L treatment and it was the highest in leaves of P. Khinjuk under 75 mg/L treatment. Although the current research proved the positive impacts of carbon nanotubes on growth of the wild Pistachio species, the further research can be suggested to find strategies for enhancing the growth of wild pistachio species to commercialize the products of these valuable species.