Abstract
Abstract Silica nanoparticles and calcium are necessary for improving plant yield and decreasing stem bending in gerbera flower (Gerbera Jamesonii L.). In order to determine the optimal concentrations of silica nanoparticles and calcium in gerberas (Gerbera Jamesonii L.), a factorial experiment in the form of completely randomized design with two factors was conducted. The first factor was the concentration of silica nanoparticles (Nanoparticle-SiO2) at four rates (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg L-1) and the second factor was the concentration of calcium chelate (Ca-Chelate) at four rates (0, 60, 120, and 240 mg L-1) which were applied as nutrient solutions. After harvest, characteristics such as stem bending, cellulose content, phenyl alanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity in leaves, and stem histological characteristics were measured. Results indicated that the lowest stem bending (deviation angle of 8.78°) was observed with applying 20 mg L-1 Nanoparticle-SiO2 and 240 mg L-1 Ca-Chelate. Comparing with control, applying 80 mg L-1 Nanoparticle-SiO2 and 240 mg L-1 Ca-Chelate increased lignin and cellulose contents by 33 and 15%, respectively. The highest amount of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (2.87 units per mg of fresh leaf) was obtained by using 60 mg L-1 calcium chelate. According to nutrient concentrations, the change patterns of xylem and stem lignification were different, which is in line with the results of the physiological studies conducted on the effects of applying silica nanoparticle and calcium in nutrient solution. Under the epidermis, there was a hypodermis (sclerenchyma) which strengthens stem tissue. Silica nanoparticles and calcium chelate due to increasing phenylalanine ammonia-lyase content and its effect on the production cycles of cellulose and lignin and increasing stem sclerenchyma, led to stems strength and lignification, which eventually decreased stem bending. According to study results, applying 40 mg L-1 Nanoparticle-SiO2 and 60 mg L-1 Ca-Chelate in hydroponic nutrient solution is recommended for growing gerbera flowers.
Highlights
Gerbera is a perennial and ornamental genus of plants in the Asteraceae which consists of about 30 species (Park et al, 2017)
Presence of macromolecules like phenyl-propanoid is known as one of the important pathways in producing secondary plant metabolites that end in the production of various phenolic compounds such as lignin, phenolic acids, and flavonoids which play important structural and defensive roles (Hatfield and Vermerris, 2001); in other words, lignin synthesis is composed of monolinguals including alcohols like p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl and their transfer to cell wall and eventually their polymerization are affected by the catalytic activity of many enzymes such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), etc. (Hatfield and Vermerris, 2001; Ralph et al, 2004)
The present research was aimed to study the effects of Silica Nanoparticles (Nanoparticle-SiO2) and Calcium Chelate (Ca-Chelate) on some morphophysiological and histological characteristics of gerbera stem under hydroponic culture in order to determine the optimal concentrations of Nanoparticle-SiO2 and Ca-Chelate in nutrient solution for improving plant yield, including decreasing stem bending
Summary
Gerbera is a perennial and ornamental genus of plants in the Asteraceae which consists of about 30 species (Park et al, 2017). Effective application of silica to reduce stem bending in cut flowers has been observed in several researches (El-Serafy, 2019; Aghdam et al, 2019) It seems that applying nutrients with higher absorptivity in soilless cultures is significantly important in improving crop products; nanonutrients are among these absorbable nutrients. The present research was aimed to study the effects of Silica Nanoparticles (Nanoparticle-SiO2) and Calcium Chelate (Ca-Chelate) on some morphophysiological and histological characteristics of gerbera stem under hydroponic culture in order to determine the optimal concentrations of Nanoparticle-SiO2 and Ca-Chelate in nutrient solution for improving plant yield (both quantitatively and qualitatively), including decreasing stem bending
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