EFFECT OF METAL NANOPARTICLES ON THE GROWTH OF NGOC LINH GINSENG (PANAX VIETNAMENSIS) LATERAL ROOTS CULTURED IN VITRO

Abstract

<p><em>Panax vietnamensis</em> (Ngoc Linh ginseng) plays critical roles in pharmaceutical industry because triterpenoid saponins from its roots produce medicine for improving health and treating many diseases. Metal nanoparticles reveal completely new or improved properties based on specific characteristics such as size, distribution and morphology compare to metal ion or salt; and their potential for <em>in vitro </em>plant cultures. Present study investigated the effects of metal nanoparticles including nZnO (0.5-2.5 mg/l), nAg (1-3 mg/l), and nCu (1-3 mg/l) supplemented in free-hormone-MS medium to <em>in vitro Panax vietnamensis </em>lateral root growth. Our results showed that metal nanoparticles have the positive effect on the growth of<em> in vitro P. vietnamensis </em>lateral<em> </em>roots with nAg, nCu, and nZnO. At different concentrations, <em>in vitro P. vietnamensis </em>lateral root growth also has various effects on the growth of lateral roots. In supplemented metal nanoparticle treatments, nCu is the most optimum for <em>in vitro P. vietnamensis</em> lateral root growth; the highest increase was obtained at 1.5 mg/l nCu treatment (99.3% lateral root formation and all root growth indexes are the highest). Besides, 2.5 mg/l nAg is also significantly noticed in ginseng root growth. However, the negative impact on the growth of the <em>in vitro P. vietnamensis</em> lateral roots showed when culture medium contained the highest concentration; such as the root growing inhibition of nCu and nAg above 2.5 mg/l. Especially, this decrease was higher with the application of nZnO0.5-2.5 mg/l (decrease the lateral root number) and 2.5 mg/l (decrease percent of lateral root formation).</p>