Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Magnetic Field Stimulate Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Cannabis sativa L.

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of magnetic field intensities and concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles on seed germination and seedling growth of Cannabis sativa L., this study was conducted. The experimental treatments included magnetopriming at intensities of 0, 30, 60, and 90 mili Tesla (mT), and the second factor included nanopriming at different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles, including 0, 10, 50, and 100 ppm. The results showed that sowing cannabis seeds by the combined use of magnetic fields and TiO2 nanoparticles had a significant effect on most of the studied traits. The effect of magnetic field levels showed that the highest dry weight of radicle, hypocotyl and seedling, the highest percentage of germination, germination rate, germination index and germination vigor index were related to the magnetic field at the intensity of 90 mT (5.3, 7, 6.8, 54.6, 110.9, 55.4, and 31.5% increase compared to the control, respectively). The results showed that the length and dry weight of radicle, hypocotyl and seedling were affected at the concentration of 10 ppm of TiO2 nanoparticles (2.84, 0.29, and 1.63, 0.62, 20.55 and 2.37%, respectively increase compared to the control). According to the study results, the decreasing trend of hypocotyl and seedling length was observed with increasing the concentration of nanoparticles. It is suggested to use the magnetic field as a non-invasive and non-destructive growth promoter of the plant and low concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles as a useful tool to increase seed permeability through improving morphological and physiological properties for medicinal-industrial plant cannabis.